Worry Monsters

Project guide written by Mandy Goodwin, MSW, LCSW, Paint Love Program Director and school social worker and Jennifer Morrison, Art Therapy Master’s candidate;

Inspired by https://www.counselorkeri.com/2018/05/07/worry-group-art-activity/

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Pairs well with

Calming Breathing Exercises for Kids

Theme

Anxiety coping; breathing skills

Time

30 minutes (plus drying time)

Age

4-10

worry monster kids craft supplies

Supplies

  • Straw

  • Thick paper (or card stock)

  • Watercolor paints

  • Cup of water

  • Paint brush or eye dropper

  • Markers 

Prep

  • Cover the table in newspaper to prevent messes

    *Make sure the newspaper does not contain disturbing images or stories (for kids that can read)

  • Make sure the watercolors have lots of water. You want the colors to move when blown.

Process

  • Have kids paint (or drip) a blob of color onto their paper

  • For younger kids, talk about inhaling and exhaling and let them have a few practice blows through their straw so they don’t accidentally suck in.

  • Using the straw, have them will slowly blow out the colors. They’ll look like spindly legs. Continue to do this, taking big deep breaths in between blowing out to move the paint, until they deem their monster complete.

  • Kids can create multiple monsters. 

  • Once they’re dry, use markers to add faces, arms and legs, accessories, etc. to bring your worry monsters to life. If the water colors aren’t as bright as they want, they can also add more color.

  • Cut them out of the paper

Discussion

What’s your monster’s name? Tell me some things about them. What kind of monster are they?

What does it mean to be worried? What worries are filling your brain most today? How can we give those worries to the monster? Whisper worries that you can let the monster hang on to for you so you can stop worrying about them for a little while (older kids can write worries on the back if they want.)

Put them in your coat pocket, sock drawer, or somewhere else you’ll run into them often but not all the time. Let them hang on to your worry, and the next time you see them, consider whether they still need to hang on to that worry for you or if they can let it go.

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