Worry monsters

[badlydrawnbear]

DC have been given cuddly worry monsters. Last night they wrote things on bits of paper and fed them into the cuddly toy. This morning I wondered if the monster is supposed to have eaten the worries in the night? That would mean that every night would be like when the tooth fairy comes, with me having to wait until they are fast asleep, creep in, remove a toy they are hugging or sleeping next to and replace it for 2 DC without waking them up. I can’t be doing that every night, but is that the point of them that they take your worries away while you are sleeping?

Not sure TBH, but I think I’d try to take them out - and see what’s worrying them. I dare say the novelty of posting worries will wear off after a while though.

I knit them for a charity that dishes them out to children’s therapists etc. Hadn’t even heard of them until about a year ago, but apparently there’s a huge demand for them.

Yeah you need to take the worries out I think? I did anyway but I didn't find them much use.

We got them when DS was going through a rough time at school and wouldn't open up about it but he wouldn't engage with the worry monster at all.

DD wanted one too but just drew pictures of rainbows and fairies (to cheer it up) and stuffed it in its mouth. Every morning she would get up excited to see if the monster had 'ate' it's present.

Got rid of them pretty sharpish.

Yes, I always took out the worries.

I used to remove the worry but the novelty did wear off and she didn't put one in every night. Maybe you could try and tell them to speak to the worry monster and for them to tell the worry monster their worries and he will listen which removes the whole paper issue. Or if they're cheap enough but duplicates and just swap them in the night so you take the one away with the paper in it- should be quicker than unzipping them and trying to find and remove paper.

DD was given one some years ago at primary school. She was supposed to feed her worries to it, the monster would then keep her worries safe until she could hand it to a teacher or parent who would take the worries out. She could choose whether the adult read the worries or just threw them away.

I had worry doll's for my dd when she had severe anxiety.

She just whispered her worries to them so there wasn't anything to do since the dolls took them away in the night.

I haven't seen a worry monster but could your dc whisper their worries into the monster? Saves you forgetting or not realising. like I did with the tooth fairy about 20 times

DD had one we used to let the worries stay in the monster and then when we had a few we burnt them and toasted marshmallows over the flame. DD liked to think her worries had gone and given her a treat on their way

Update: I removed the worries from DC2’s while she was at school. Apparently, that was not the right thing to do. She was very annoyed when she asked where they had gone and I suggested he had eaten them. Hopefully the novelty has worn off now