Worry Doll Follow-Up

Here are some of the worry dolls created by the elementary school children I worked with in May. Some of the children shared their worries during the art making process. Their ages were reflected in the types of worries they articulated.  For example, the younger children talked more about characters from stories which caused them distress while some of the older children talked about getting into trouble at school and having to face their parents. One young girl in particular began group very disorganized and needed much 1:1 attention from me.  Once she was able to focus on the doll making, she became lost in the process.  She was able to work independently for short spells and seemed to calm down.  Another child talked incessently about how she needed a “big doll for my big worries and a small doll for my small worries”. It seemed that she was creating order through the process of separating out her needs and devising a plan.

It was my honor to work with the students and I hope that the dolls continue to bring both joy and relief to their experiences.

Creative Coping and Following Their Lead

A terrible day for our three year old over the weekend.  She had talked her father into a ruby red, star-covered, helium balloon from the Memorial Day festivities. We watched many balloons soar into the sky, leaving behind sobbing little ones.

She had her ear-full of “don’t let go of it” and “watch out for …” while carrying it back to the car. Later in the day, her father took her for a bike ride.  She wanted to bring the balloon so we tied it to the trailer.  Sadly, the balloon untied on it’s own and drifted away shortly after they got to the playground.  They came home and Ella was eager to tell me what had happened and how sad she was. She asked if we could make a picture to show what had happened (first time she’s ever asked).

I drew some cartoon boxes and had her tell me frame by frame how the terrible event unfolded.  

She described riding in the trailer, getting to the playground, meeting two girls and then watching the balloon float away.  What is interesting about this is the time she then spent swirling glitter paint colors over the emotionally charged image of herself.  This was the only box she gave special attention to and made her own marks on.  I speculate that she was able to sit with the difficult feelings more easily through the character and the fluid property of the glitter paint allowed her to become lost in the process. She softened while working here, several times asking me to get the glitter out of her character’s eyes.  She decided the glitter made the little girl feel better.

This three year old knew exactly what she needed to move through the painful experience.  Our job was to listen to what she was asking for and to sit with her through the uncomfortable feelings.

Worry Dolls

This month I am fortunate to provide enrichment groups for some K-5th grade students at a nearby elementary school.  The principal shared with me her concern for some of the students and issues of anxiety.  Many factors can contribute to a child’s feelings of anxiety such as troubles at home, social issues, academics and a million others.  I got to thinking about Guatemalan Worry Dolls.  The legend goes that before you go to bed, you whisper one worry to each doll then put them under your pillow. While you are sleeping, the dolls will take away your worries.

Emma Hardy has a wonderful “Peg Dolls” project from her Green Crafts for Children. Using wooden clothing pegs, fabric scraps, yarn, marker, scissors and glue, we will create worry dolls to help the children find an outside place to put their concerns.

The process of creating these dolls is cathartic and soothing, in addition to the use of the dolls once completed.  For example, the repetition of wrapping can help to settle a racing mind.