The Very Hungry Worry Monsters

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I saw someone convert a simple basket into a worry monster. All they did was to paint some teeth around the upper rim of the wooden basket. This made it look as if a monster had its mouth open wide to the ceiling.

There are a few worry monster picture books around, but definitely my favorite that I’ve seen is The Very Hungry Worry Monsters, by Rosie Greening.This may work well if your child is capable of using their imagination and visualize the concept of a worry box. This is perhaps best done as a group activity, first thinking about what each of them is worried about, talking it through a bit, and then drawing what that looks like to them. It doesn’t have to look like a masterpiece of art – the emphasis is on the psychological benefits of this experience. And then start a story. The way to include worry in the story, is to get the children to visualise something their worried about, and somehow trap the worry.

In this particular small group activity, students each create their own unique worry monsters, choosing from different bodies, eyes, mouths, arms, and even legs. Some students make worry monsters that look quite scary while others make worry monsters that appear friendly, and that’s okay. A good activity, then, is to take the children on a scavenger hunt with one of the purposes being to find ‘food’ for the worry monster.With your hot glue gun, place a line of glue all the way down the line of the white foam teeth that you cut out. Then take all the found food and store it in some ceremonial place, e.g. a basket or box, where it can be ready for next time you use the worry monster.