22/03/2023
Discussing fears and worries at home 🏡
Help your child talk about what’s frightening them. Little ones don’t always have the words to explain what they are afraid of. Help by asking specific questions. For example if your child is afraid of dogs, you could say, “What makes dogs scary?”
Parents and carers can use the tools described below to encourage little ones to speak about what scares or makes them anxious
Worry Box 📦
Children can include all sorts of things in their box and lock their fears away 🔐 e.g drawings, items that remind them of the worry/fear, poems or letters they wrote etc
Scary Picture ✍️ Encourage them to draw their worry/fear. Then rip it to pieces and put it in the bin.
Thought Diary 📔 Encourage them to create their very own worry diary where they can write or draw what scares or worries them. TIP! It’s great to use a scrapbook so they can decorate it as they like at the front. It also provides them with plain white paper inside and not ruled pages. Ruled pages can be provided alongside so they can use it to write on and stick it in their diary
Rain Maker ☔️ Use kitchen roll and place inside folded paper and some lentils. Cover the ends with tape. Decorate and listen to the lentils making their was through the paper inside which will act as an obstacle. They will slowly make their way from side to side creating a calm rain like sound. Encourage little ones to breathe and focus on the sound when feeling worried 🔊👂
