Joyester

We’re all worried

There is something we are all afraid of. As a result, we worry. Both children and adults. That’s not all bad. As a matter of fact, our fears keep us safe and motivate us to avoid what we fear.

If we’re 16 or 60, taking the written test to get or renew a driver’s license is likely to make us nervous. We worry about failing. We study the manual until we feel prepared because of that fear. There’s no guarantee we’ll pass, but we’re more likely to answer questions correctly and to feel less anxious.

The Real Versus the Imaginary

There are worries among children as well. Their fears are sometimes the result of their active imaginations.  Under the bed, there are monsters. Despite their make-believe nature, the fear of these creatures is real to a young child who does not yet understand the difference between fantasy and reality.

Children are magical thinkers who view the world from a self-centered perspective. He told me his grandparents had bought a new car because he threw up in the old one. He was worried they were angry with him. As far as he was concerned, he had ruined their car. It never occurred to him that months had passed between these unrelated events.

Worry Management Tools

Gerd Hahn understands the feeling of losing sleep due to worry overload. With his angst and talent, he created Worry Eaters. Their manta is “Let me carry your worries so you don’t have to.” They are engaging, soft, huggable characters.

There is nothing complicated about their invitation.

1. Your fears and worries should be written down or drawn.

2. I’ll hold them for you if you feed them to me.

3. Together, we’ll get through this.

That’s a powerful message. Children can express their feelings and put names to their worries with Worry Eaters. Adults sometimes have a hard time pinpointing the cause of their distress. As well, children sometimes have difficulty explaining their feelings.

It is possible for a trusted, caring adult to help a child identify what is bothering him and give it a name. As a result of sharing his feelings, the child gains emotional support. The child lightens his load by feeding his worries to a Worry Eater in order to create space between himself and his worries.

A favorite Worry Eater becomes a confidant as well. Worry Eater listens to children whenever they need an ear. Comforting and reassuring, Worry Eater is soft and huggable.

It’s not just for kids

Bigger kids can also benefit from Worry Eaters. As children grow and develop, they face daily challenges. It is essential to manage worries in a healthy way. Worry Eaters, like a journal, serve to ease anxiety by encouraging kids to identify and cope with what’s bothering them. The process of naming the worry and feeding it to a Worry Eater symbolically creates space for problem-solving.

Customers have purchased Worry Eaters for their young adult children too. I recall one buying two to send daughters in law school. She figured – and you know she’s right on – those young women had plenty of worries in need of holding.

Worry Eaters in Therapeutic Situations

I credit my daughter-in-law with this idea. Having individual Worry Eaters for every little kid client is expensive. What she suggests is creating a file box with an envelope for each client. Between sessions transfer the worries to these envelopes for safe keeping and quick retrieval.

Something for Everyone

Worry Eaters help children (and their adults) express and cope with their worries in a healthy way. With two sizes and an array of delightful characters-five available both large and small-you’re sure to find a Worry Eater perfect for every worrier in your life.