Mind

Why Putting Worries in a Box (or Jar) Calms Anxious Kids

March 4, 2017

 A Lesson Learned

During one of my first years of teaching, my students taught me a valuable lesson.

One that I’ve since seen validated in numerous studies of how anxiety negatively affects the brain and learning.

I was trying unsuccessfully to teach a reading lesson.  It was a great lesson, I thought; with puppets, music…it was multisensory, but not over the top.  They were engaged, but not retaining the concept.

Sighing, I asked what I could do to make it easier to understand.

My student’s answers were not what I expected.

One of my little ones raised his hand and said, “I want to learn, but I keep thinkin’ about how I don’t like walkin’ home alone after school.  The traffic is so loud and it scares me.”

Another child added, “I’m wondering if today is WIC day (government-funded supplemental nutrition program) because we don’t have much food at home.”

And finally, “Mrs. Gioia, it’s hard to remember stuff when it’s almost lunch. Nobody likes me.  I don’t wanna walk around the playground alone.”

Wow.  Those were some substantial worries.  I could see why my phonics lesson, as engaging as it was, was not their main concern.

I had read about Worry Boxes (or Worry Jars) and wondered if they might be a solution.

Giving our Worries to the Wolves

The next day I brought in a small shoebox.  I covered it with pictures of wolves to match the wolf theme of my classroom (The Wolf Pack Classroom.)  I told my students that we were going to give our worries to the wolves.

While we were in my resource room, the wolves could do the worrying for us.  Our brains would then be relaxed and free to learn.

I set the box in our relaxation station, with pieces of paper, pencils and crayons.

Children could:

  • write or draw their worries on a piece of paper,
  • open the box and give their worries to the wolves,
  • then focus on learning.

While I didn’t exactly do a qualitative research study of the efficacy of the Worry Box, I knew it was a success.

Students would come into my classroom, write or draw their worries, then settle down to learning.

The children were much more attentive than they had been before the Worry Box arrived.  There was less attention-seeking behavior and definitely more time on task.

I checked the box each day, talked to children about their worries, and when necessary, made a referral to our school counselor.

From that year on, my classroom always had a Worry Box.

My Worry Box

Why Does a Worry Box/Worry Jar Work?

A cognitive behavioral therapy technique, Worry Boxes/Jars contain worries for the child.  The container keeps the worries, so the child can let them go.  Like journaling, which is an effective therapy technique, writing or drawing the worry gets it out of the child’s mind and into a “vessel” where it is contained.

According to Joanna Gioia, MSSA, LISW-S, Director of Mental Health Programs at Ohio Guidestone, “The ability for a child to identify the source of anxiety, figuratively detach from it, and develop a mental or physical representation to assist them in containing it, can be amazingly powerful!”

She continues, “Worry boxes are a wonderful avenue for this!”

Worry Boxes/Jars give the worry a boundary.  The worries are still there.  They’ve been acknowledged and expressed by words or pictures, but they’re filling a space other than the child’s mind.

Teece Nowell, MS, LCPC,BCPC, a mental health practitioner specializing in children and their families in Maryland says, “Worry boxes are a great tool in so many ways!  First of all, it takes the internal stress of anxiety and makes it tangible and thus releasable, by putting it on paper and storing in a safe place rather than the child having to manage it all alone.”

“Then when the parent and child take time to connect and share the worry it helps the child connect with the parent and feel safe so they don’t need to worry.”

“You see, if a child feels “connected” often they don’t need to worry. It is the feeling of isolation that causes anxiety so the key is connection,”

“If the parent and child have a special time of day to read from the worry box it is a double win; connection and discussion of the worry!”

It’s really a brilliant strategy! And a fun artistic activity to boot,” Teece concludes.

How Do You Make a Worry Box/Jar?

Let the child choose the container.

In my classroom, we always used the box with wolves, but one year we also had a Mason jar covered with rainbow-colored tissue paper that one of my student’s made in art class.

Children can write or draw their worries on pieces of paper.  I like using paper so the students can Write and Rip their worries (one of the strategies I recommend in my downloadable Guide for Parents).

I have also used smooth stones instead of the slips of paper.

Stone Worry Jar 2

(My classroom relaxation station had a small bowl of smooth pebbles for children to hold when anxious.  The year of our tissue-papered Worry Jar, some children used a Sharpie to write their worries on the smooth stones and put them in the jar.  Stones like these are inexpensive and available at any garden or discount store.)

What kind of container makes a good Worry Box/Jar?

  • Clear or colored Mason jar
  • Glass or plastic jar with labels removed (recycle J)
  • Shoe box
  • Finished or unfinished wood box with lid (found at craft stores or online)

How can you decorate the Worry Box/Jar?

Any way your child or students would like.  In my classroom, we used the wolves and the tissue-papered Mason jar. Some children like to label the container with “Worry Box” (or Jar) in bold letters.

Here are some more creative and fun ideas:

  • A clear or colored jar with ribbons
  • A plastic index card holder with Superhero stickers (to fight the worries)
  • A box covered with balloon wrapping paper to let the worries soar away
  • A tiny ballerina jewelry box with worries written on multicolored plastic gemstones
  • A treasure chest with worries written on plastic gemstones and pirate gold coins. (Available at Amazon, Oriental Trading Company or any party store.)
  • Black magician’s hat with magic wand to make the worries disappear

Where do you store the Worry Box/Jar?

The Worry Box in my classroom sat on a small table in the relaxation station.  It was next to a big stuffed wolf who, the children were certain, scared the worries into staying in the box where they belonged.

One year a student wanted to keep the worries outside of our classroom.  They made him that anxious.

Our custodian’s office, in the boiler room, was next door to my classroom.  Mr. Allen valiantly kept our class worries on a big steel shelf, next to his toolbox, flashlight and safety goggles.

At home, let your child pick the place to store the worries, preferably not in her bedroom.  Some children like mom or dad to keep the worries in their room.

One of my students made a worry box at home and kept his worries in the detached garage.

He explained, “Mrs. G., my worries are way out back in the garage, behind our house.  They’re so far away, I just forget about them.”

Now that statement shows the strategy is a worth a try!

When do you discuss the worries?

Some therapists recommend setting aside a specific time to worry, but never at bedtime.

But many children get a rush of fears and worries right as they get into bed, so putting them down on paper at bedtime, and getting them out of the room, might be a good idea.

You can briefly talk about the worry as you tuck your child in and then move on to another soothing activity.  Acknowledging the worry, and connecting, as Teece says, is vital.

Discussing worries after school might calm some children and aid their transition into their home routine.

Putting aside their worries from the day, and those they are facing tomorrow, friendship concerns, upcoming tests, a field trip…help them relax and focus on homework, activities, or just having fun.

As always, you know your child best.  Some children do best with a timer set, and when it goes off, worry time is over.  Others need a more open-ended worry time. Experts say worry time gets shorter and shorter as children feel their worries are validated.

The Worry Box in my classroom helped my students worry less and enabled them to learn more.  I used it year after year and then had one for my own children.

For a beautiful, soothing picture book to introduce a worry box, read The Worry Box: A Picture Book for Anxious Children.  Author Suzanne Chiew takes readers on a beautiful adventure with Murray Bear, his sister Molly, and his trusted worry box.

Do you have a creative Worry Box/Jar idea or a success story?  We would love to hear!

 

 

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16 Comments

  • Reply Brenda March 4, 2017 at 10:46 pm

    Great idea! Wonder if it would work for high school students?

    • Reply Jan Gioia March 4, 2017 at 11:05 pm

      Hi Brenda. That’s a great question, and the answer is yes!

      Worry Boxes/Jars can be used for teens and adults. While I have never taught high school, I would imagine that they would be effective in a high school classroom, as well as in a teen’s home.

      For high school students in the classroom, however, I would imagine having the box in a more private location, would allow teens the anonymity they would need to utilize it.

      Sometimes it is a good idea to have an adult jar and a child jar, so the child can see that some worries are his, and others are the adult worries.

      Mental health experts say that Worry Boxes are part of the journaling therapy technique, which is very beneficial for adults and teens.

      Teen worries are more along the lines of “What if I don’t get into my first choice college?” or “I’m worried that my boyfriend will break up with me.” These are the things that really need that connection piece, with a parent, therapist or other trusted adult.

      If you use the Worry Box/Jar strategy with a teen in your life, please consider sharing your success story! We’d love to hear!

  • Reply Dawn Katona March 4, 2017 at 11:10 pm

    I think this is a fantastic idea! My daughter was struggling with anxiety and we incorporated this into our nightly routine. I think it would be wonderful to have this outlet in the classroom too. So many little hearts with so much worry.

    • Reply Jan Gioia March 5, 2017 at 12:15 am

      I’m so glad this idea worked for your daughter, Dawn! Yes, there are too many little hearts with way too many worries. The Worry Box/Jar is an excellent addition into any classroom.

  • Reply Lauren Tharp March 4, 2017 at 11:21 pm

    What a wonderful idea! Maybe I should make my own “worry jar” for when I’m overwhelmed with anxiety/brain nonsense and it’s getting in the way of my work day. haha. I usually just use a journal for that kind of thing, but this would be a good excuse to get craftsy and decorate a jar! (I’m planning to make spaghetti sometime soon, so maybe I’ll save the Ragu sauce jar, wash it out, and then repurpose it).

    • Reply Jan Gioia March 5, 2017 at 12:14 am

      Hi Lauren. I think re-purposing a jar would be a great idea! I think the crafting part of the box or jar helps kids take ownership of the box/jar and then get excited about getting rid of their worries. In my classroom, kids couldn’t wait to give their worries to the wolves. I didn’t plan that it would improve student’s behavior, but it did, and that was an added bonus!

  • Reply Tina March 4, 2017 at 11:39 pm

    What a nice way to let kids unburden themselves. They can get on with the important tasks of the day and not let their fears overcome them – it sounds like a great way to just “let it go.” Like another commenter says, it sounds like it would be great if it could be adapted for older kids, too.

    • Reply Jan Gioia March 5, 2017 at 12:11 am

      Thank you, Tina. Yes, this strategy is great for little ones, who can draw their worries, and for older kids, teens and adults.

  • Reply Amy March 4, 2017 at 11:42 pm

    Wow, what a great idea! I love it! Definitely going to use this when I teach.

    • Reply Jan Gioia March 5, 2017 at 12:09 am

      Thanks, Amy. It works very well in the classroom. Blessings to you as you prepare to become a teacher!

  • Reply Teece Nowell March 10, 2017 at 3:13 pm

    Really nice article, Jan. I’m going to post on my Facebook page for all my clients to have access to!

    • Reply Jan Gioia March 10, 2017 at 7:36 pm

      Thank you so much! I hope your clients benefit from the ideas in the article!

  • Reply Laura January 17, 2018 at 2:23 pm

    Thank you Jan! I’m planning to create a worry jar to stay in my room and a gratitude jar to stay in my daughter’s room. She gets so overwhelmed with her worries that she forgets all the great things that balance out her day. I’m hoping this will help to keep the worries at bay while providing a reminder for a happier and healthier outlook going forward.

    • Reply Jan Gioia January 17, 2018 at 2:32 pm

      Hi Laura. That’s a great idea. Our brains always seem to want to focus on the negative. Even if we experienced dozens of positive things in a day, it’s the one negative thing that we focus on. It takes work to keep the scales tipped on the side of positive things. I’m just about to post an article on how to use positive stories to reduce children’s anxiety and worries. I hope you’ll stop back and read it. Peace, Jan

  • Reply Amanda September 20, 2018 at 1:43 pm

    I found the worry box exercise extremely beneficial. Just normalizing the fears and helping children understand the brain is wired for safety and not happiness is so helpful. It’s also more positive in many ways to do this exercies, although sometimes I wonder if it isn’t making children think they need to push their fears away instead of embracing their self-protective mechanisms and kind of telling them to be less overbearing. I think the common idea of talking about a “worry monster” has a way of really creating a negative relationship between a child and their natural (if sometimes excessive) fears. Why not a worry bear that is just annoying and has the best intentions? Just some ideas to explore. Thank you for your extremely thorough article. I have just shared it with a local social media group to elucidate some methods to help young children externalize their fears.

    • Reply Jan Gioia September 20, 2018 at 3:08 pm

      Hi Amanda,
      thank you so much for visiting Comforting Anxious Children and sharing this post with your social media group.
      I think with a worry box children acknowledge their fears, and the box gives them a place to “contain” them so to speak. In many of my posts I stress that children need to know that it is okay to be afraid…everyone has fears and they are normal. When children’s fears become excessive and life limiting, then they need to be addressed.

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