There is no doubt that at some point little ones worry about things. Teaching them to cope with their worries can be quite that task sometimes. Telling kids not to worry, just does not work and does not teach them to deal with the concern or work through it. From what I have seen with my Little One, kids need a way to put the worry on the shelf, acknowledging it is there, recognizing it exists, but only giving it the amount of time and thought that it deserves.
There are a lot of different tools and methods for helping little ones deal with their worries. One of the latest products that I came across and think is absolutely awesome is called Worry Eaters.
With the Worry Eaters plush toy, children can confide in their cuddly friend with their deepest worries and fears.
The design incorporates a zipper at the mouth, allowing a child to insert slips of paper bearing words that describe their worries or concerns. The Worry Eater will then gobble up the child’s fears (with the help of their parents, of course). Worry Eaters come in various sizes and several characters.
Price: Small – $18.99 Large – $27.99 | Availability: Speciality toy stores and select bookstores across Canada | Age:
3+ years
The idea of Worry Eaters is that a little one can put their worries onto a piece of paper, unzip their Worry Eater’s mouth and slip the piece of paper with the worry written onto it into the Worry Eater’s mouth. Then zip the mouth closed.
The concept is pretty neat I think because, by the little one writing their worry down, they are acknowledging that it exists. By putting the worry in the Worry Eater’s mouth, it is like them putting it on a shelf, as if to say that I know this worry exists, but I will not give it more attention than it deserves.
I think that Worry Eaters would be excellent in many settings, from home to counselor’s offices, and even in a classroom/school environment.
There are a number of Worry Eaters available in a variety of colors. There are also small and large Worry Eaters.
Worry Eaters are:
*Adorable
*Soft
*Cuddly
Worry Eaters are recommended for ages 3 and older. Of course, if you have a Worry Eater for a younger child, then they will need help with writing their worry down on a piece of paper. I would suggest for younger ones that maybe they draw a picture instead of writing their worry.
How you deal with the worry once it has been placed in the Worry Eater will be up to what you think is the best thing to do for your child. Do you leave the worry there so that your child can reach in, read it, and place it back in? Maybe this is a way to check in with the worry if it surfaces again. Or do you take it out as if the Worry Eater has really eaten it? If the worry surfaces again, you could then have your little one write it down again for the Worry Eater to deal with again. Maybe you do a combination of both…..with leaving the worry there for awhile so it can be checked in on until it seems that the worry is not an issue any longer and then you take it out.
Worry Eaters has won a number of awards and I can see why. I think that they are an amazing concept turned into a wonderful product.
If you are looking where to find Worry Eaters…they are available in specialty toy stores and select bookstores across Canada.
To find out more about Worry Eaters, make sure to visit them here…
Disclosure: MomMomOnTheGo was provided product for the purpose of conducting this review. As always, MomMomOnTheGo only supports companies, products, and services that she loves.
