Easy Worry Monster Craft for Kids (Perfect for School Anxiety)
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Looking for a fun and meaningful craft to make with your child?
This easy Worry Monster craft is a creative way to encourage children to talk about their feelings while making something colourful and fun. Once finished, children can write down or draw their worries and feed them to their Worry Monster through its mouth.
It’s a simple activity that can help children express emotions, start conversations about worries, and build confidence when facing new situations.
This craft is particularly helpful during times of change, such as starting school, moving house, or trying new activities.
What Is a Worry Monster?
A Worry Monster is a friendly creature that “eats” worries.
Children can write down a worry, draw a picture of it, or ask an adult to help them write it down. The worry is then fed into the monster’s mouth and safely stored away.
The idea isn’t that worries magically disappear, but rather that children have a safe and playful way to acknowledge their feelings and share them with a trusted adult.
Many children find it easier to talk about worries while engaging in a creative activity.
Why Make This Easy Worry Monster Craft?
Worry Monsters can help children:
- Identify and express feelings
- Talk openly about worries
- Build emotional awareness
- Develop healthy coping strategies
- Feel supported and listened to
- Gain confidence during times of change
They can be especially useful before major events such as starting school or returning after a long holiday.
Materials You’ll Need
- Coloured card, paper, or a small box
- Googly eyes – We used these large, self-adhesive ones
- Glue
- Scissors
- Markers, crayons, or paint
- Craft embellishments (optional)
Feel free to get creative and use whatever materials you already have at home.
How to Make a Worry Monster
Step 1: Create Your Monster
Start by choosing a box, paper bag, paper plate, or piece of card as the base for your monster. We used a range of cardboard boxes we had at home.
Encourage children to decide what their monster will look like.
Will it be silly, colourful, furry, or covered in spots?
Step 2: Add a Big Mouth
Cut or draw a large mouth where worries can be “fed” into the monster.
If you’re using a box, you can cut a slot into the front.
Step 3: Decorate
Add eyes, teeth, hair, ears, or any other decorations your child would like.
This is a great opportunity for children to use their imagination and make the monster feel friendly and approachable.
Step 4: Give Your Monster a Name
Naming the monster helps children connect with it. Talk to your child while making the worry monster craft to find out what kind of a monster it is. Is it friendly or brave? Or maybe it is a silly monster that likes to make up funny rhymes. Ask your child what things the monster might like to eat when it isn’t eating up worries.
Step 5: Feed the Monster Your Worries
Once the craft is complete, invite your child to write or draw a worry on a small piece of paper.
They can then feed it to the monster through its mouth.
You may wish to talk about the worry together before feeding it to the monster.
Pair Your Worry Monster With a Worry Plan
For children who have larger worries or ongoing concerns, a Worry Monster can be used alongside a Worry Plan.
Our free printable Worry Plan helps children:
- Identify worries
- Think about possible solutions
- Recognise trusted helpers
- Develop coping strategies
Together, these activities encourage children to understand and manage their emotions in a positive way.
Supporting Children Through School Worries
Many families make Worry Monsters before the start of a new school year.
Children may feel worried about starting school or returning to school after the holidays. Other things as meeting a new teacher, making friends or learning new routines may also play on their minds.
Creating a Worry Monster can provide a gentle opportunity to discuss these concerns and help children feel more prepared.
You may also enjoy reading:
- School Readiness Checklist: What Should My Child Know Before Starting School?
- How to Handle Back to School Anxiety (For Kids and Parents)
- How to Create a Worry Plan for Children
These resources can help children build confidence and develop healthy ways to manage worries.
Tips for Using Your Worry Monster
To get the most from your Worry Monster:
- Make worry-sharing part of your routine.
- Encourage children to talk about their worries before feeding them to the monster.
- Celebrate brave conversations.
- Remind children that all feelings are welcome.
- Revisit worries together if needed.
The goal isn’t to eliminate every worry. Instead, it’s to help children feel heard, supported, and confident that they can manage difficult feelings.
Final Thoughts
This easy Worry Monster craft is more than just a fun activity. It’s a playful tool that can help children express feelings, build emotional awareness, and develop confidence when facing new experiences.
Whether your child is preparing for school, trying something new, or simply having a wobbly day, a friendly Worry Monster can be a wonderful reminder that they don’t have to carry their worries alone.
