Worry box
Purpose
To encourage siblings to write their worries then tackle them with the help of their family. Decorating the worry box is a creative activity that siblings really enjoy.
You will need
Small plain boxes – these can be bought from craft stores or you could make them or use jewellery boxes or gift boxes.
Pens, decorating materials – feathers, glitter, stickers etc, glue.
How to do it
Ask parents to support siblings in using the box. This will need to be discussed with the parents in advance as it is intended to help the sibling express their thoughts more at home.
Explain the idea of the box - when a worry or troubling thought comes into their mind, siblings can write it down on a piece of paper and put it in the box. At an agreed time, perhaps at the end of the day, they can take them out and talk about them with a parent. If parents are 'always busy', suggest that siblings could 'make a date' with them in the diary or calendar.
Discuss how worries can be put into 4 categories.
1. Things that you worry about but that never happen - acknowledge the worry then throw it away
2. Things you don't like but cannot be changed by anyone -acknowledge the worry then throw it away
3. Things that can be sorted out by others - acknowledge the worry then ask a parent to help
4. Things that can be changed by you (the sibling) - acknowledge the worry then ask parents to help you do something about it.
The sibling decorates the box then takes it home.
Next time you meet with the sibling, ask him or her how it is being used:
Any successes?
Does he/she need any more advice about using it?
Are parents joining in?
Do parents need more encouragement to help the sibling with it?
What has the sibling noticed about the worries?
Hopefully the sibling will begin to see that a lot of the things he/she worries about can be sorted out by others or never actually happen.
