Are you familiar with Guatemalan “Worry Dolls?” They are tiny dolls made out of wire, wool and scrap textiles dressed in traditional Mayan clothing. The purpose of the Worry Dolls is to help a child get rid of what worries them or whatever is weighing heavily on their mind.
To use a Worry Doll a child simply needs to tell the doll/dolls what is bothering them, then tuck it under their pillow at night to “sleep on it.” In the morning the child is suppose to feel better because the doll/dolls are suppose to take the worry away.
It’s an interesting concept. I like the idea of being able to share what bothers you with someone (or something) and have them help take that away so you don’t have to fret anymore about it.
I used to have a set of Worry Doll. My mom gave them to me when I was little. I wish I knew what happened to them.
I think it’s only natural that children worry about things (first day of school, moving to a new home, a big test coming up…). It’s natural. It’s life. We all worry about things from time to time.
A company called the Haywire Group have come up with a fun, modern version of Worry Dolls called Worry Eaters. Worry Eaters are cute, colorful monsters that can gobble up whatever a child is worried about.
Worry Eaters have sweet, friendly faces with wide zippered mouths.
To use a Worry Eater a child can write down what is troubling them and “feed” it to the Worry Eater. If a child is too young to write they can draw a picture of what is worrying them and feed it to their Worry Eater friend.
The idea is for the Worry Eater to take care of the problem so that the child can get a good night’s sleep. It also allows parents to understand what is bothering their child because parents are supposed to remove the “worry” from the Worry Eaters mouth (ideally without the child knowing that).
Here is some additional information from the Haywire Group about Worry Eaters and why they are helpful for children.
At times, childhood worries can be very BIG, and at other times, very small. No matter how big or small the worries, they are all important in the life of a child. Parents can help kids learn to manage stress and tackle everyday problems with ease using Worry Eaters as a tool to identify worries, clarify misunderstandings or misconceptions, resolve conflicts and build self-esteem, while promoting the development of healthy coping skills. Kids who can do this develop a sense of confidence and optimism that will help them master life’s challenges, big and small.
Worry Eaters allow children a chance to identify worries and separate themselves from that worry or problem, giving the child some time to “take a break” from carrying the weight of that worry. This separation, giving the worry to the Worry Eater, allows children the opportunity to look at the worry or problem separate from themselves. The act of then sharing that worry inside the Worry Eater’s mouth with a parent, caregiver or trusted friend can help a child problem solve solutions, face that worry, and/or just acknowledge that the worry exists.
Check out this video with speech pathologist and language expert Sherry Artemenko and children talking about how Worry Eaters can help children.
Worry Eaters Round Table With Sherry and Friends from Haywire Group on Vimeo.
Worry Eaters come in a variety of monster designs.
I was sent Frula to review.
The plush toy is not too big, nor too small. It’s a nice size for a young child.
The plush is flat, so if could easily be tucked underneath a pillow at night, the same way you would tuck a Worry Doll under your pillow.
As a parent I really like the idea of a child being able to write down (or draw) what is bothering them and feed it to the Worry Eater to help them take care of the issue. I also like that it gives parents a way of finding out what is going on in their child’s life – especially a child who might not easily talk about what is on their mind.
I also like that the cute little plush toys can serve as a friend and confidant to a child. They are also really adorable little toys. It’s cute how the zipper look like teeth.
Worry Easters come in small and large sizes. The small retail for $15.99 and the large for $22.99.
For more information about Worry Eaters, please visit the Haywire Group www.HaywireGroup.com/Worry-Eaters/Shop. You can also check them out on Facebook and Twitter.
What do you think about Worry Eaters? Do you think it’s a great idea?
Which Worry Eater is your favorite?
Feel free to share your thoughts. I always love to hear from readers.
Kimberly
*I received a free product sample to review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
Sarah L says
That’s a fun concept for kids (and big people) to give their worries to the worry eaters.