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Dealing with worries pack. by a primary pastoral lead

This pack has been designed to be used as an intervention running over a period of 4 weeks. A family member of mine worked with a psychologist regarding their worries and I have adapted this for use at primary age, using the four step programme we learned through the process.

It is best suited to those children who find it difficult to sort the real worries from their perceived worries and those who tend to ‘ruminate’ over things, causing distress.

Contained on one PPT (and PDF version) are resources for:

• Week 1
  Classifying everyday objects into ‘Keep’ or ‘Trash’, on the conveyor belt images. Encourage discussion e.g. Should the broken vase be discarded? Or should it be repaired and kept? What about the empty cardboard box? The idea is for children to understand that there is rarely a black and white decision, rather there are grey areas (something worriers tend to find difficult).

• Week 2
  Repeat last week’s familiar activity, using the conveyor belts but move on to categorise (editable) worries.
  Is this worry something important that you should keep hold of in your mind? Or is it ‘trash’ that we throw away and move on from, learning from it, but not dwelling on it?

• Week 3
  Draw your own Worry Monster. Psychologists believe we should externalise our worries so that they do not become part of us and our identity as ‘a worrier’.
  This drawing will become a hook in future lessons: “I think the Worry Monster is talking to me today. Let’s take away his power by blowing bubbles together or practising our belly breathing.”

• Week 4

• Introduce the four step process of getting through intrusive thoughts and worries. Children have a handout to take home as it is vital at this age that parents use the same programme, as they spend the most time with their child.
  I explain this practice like walking through an over grown field; the first journey is hard with brambles etc. Over time, the path becomes worn and easier to follow. Eventually we walk that way each day and don’t even think about it; it feels automatic.
  This step involves breathing exercises (resource to follow soon!) for self-soothing.