The Huge Bag of Worries

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A fantastic book that opens discussions about worries and leads to some fun outdoor activities. It also enables you to think about strategies to deal with your worries such as developing your network and who could help you feel safe. *New Online Training* Taking the Curriculum Outdoors: A Whole School Approach

Protective Behaviours uses 7 strategies. One of these is called One Step Removed. This is a strategy that allows people to explore their feelings and thoughts using the 3rd person so it is not personal to them. Using the Huge Bag of Worries we can use puppets or characters, in this case we used an elf and asked, ‘If the elf had a bag of worries what might be in it?’.

Our Worry Wobbles intervention is fab for working with a group but I thought for working one to one this Worry wobbles workbook might be… Article 2, which states that all children have the rights set out in the UNCRC, no matter who they are, where they live, what their parents do, what language they speak, what their religion is, whether they are boy or girl, what their culture is, whether they have a disability, whether they are rich or poor; Throughout The Huge Bag of Worries, Jenny experiences many issues that can affect mental health. Although everything in Jenny’s life appears positive at the start of the story, her bag of worries grows bigger and bigger until the weight, the burden of her worries becomes too much to bear and she breaks down.

The illustrations in the book are very bright and colourful and give lots of highlights to the important points in the story. One of the activities I like to do after reading the book is to give a child a bag and using potatoes add them to the bag one at a time so they get a real feel of how worries can weigh you down. After putting a few potatoes in then take one out at a time as you offload those worries to to someone. The bag feels lighter and you can feel lighter and happier. Virginia Ironside is best known as one of Britain's leading agony aunts. She started on WOMAN magazine before moving to THE SUNDAY MIRROR and TODAY newspapers. She now writes a weekly column for THE INDEPENDENT. She also appears regularly on radio and television on such programmes as Radio 4's 'Woman's Hour'. Her many books include self-help titles on subjects such as bereavement, as well as the children's spooky adventure series BURLAP HALL.There could have been more information about some of the worries that the other characters have, it is helpful to see that for example Mum and Dad also have worries but this could have been talked about more. There are lots of worries in the bag but none are talked about in too much detail, it would have been good to maybe name and explore some in a bit more detail at the end to help with sorting them into groups. A hilarious picture book about dealing with unexplained feelings…and the danger in suppressing them! Arts and Culture: Taking part in arts and culture can help improve your mental health because it helps you to relax, express who you are and improve confidence and self-esteem through drama, literature, music and art. It tells the story of a little girl who carries around a huge bag filled with worries. (‘The metaphor is little monsters). Article 12, which states that parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child;

Sporting Activities: Exercise can have an important role in mental wellbeing. Getting involved in the habit of exercise will help you to be healthy. The Welsh Government will be implementing more play areas, cycle paths, places to go walking, safe streets and green open spaces. My favourite part of the book is when Jenny figures out how to deal with her bag of worries, the end of the story gives lot of brilliant ideas about how we can all treat our worries. Article 25, which states parties recognise the right of a child who has been placed by the competent authorities for the purposes of care, protection or treatment of his or her physical or mental health to a periodic review of the treatment provided to the child and all other circumstances relevant to his or her placement.if the children are happy to share the worries from the bag let them do so and discuss the strategies they could use to deal with the worry. This can be done in role play with advice from the other elves/fairies.

Children’s Legal Centre Wales Response: Report by Children’s Commissioner for England on Strip Search of Children As well as this worry bag activity, there are lots of other ways you can help your children to think and talk about their worries and emotions. We've got these brilliant teacher-made resources for you to try: In Woodland Dreams, young readers say goodnight to beloved woodland animals as they prepare to sleep. It is a perfect story for children who are feeling anxious or for when you want to discuss strategies about what to do when we have a worry, as we all do at some point. My own children have loved this book, especially with the uncertainty of COVID-19. My youngest (aged 6) asked me to read it over and over again. Exasperated and exhausted by the weight of her worries, she eventually breaks down outside her home, where a wise, old neighbour lady notices her distress and offers to help Jenny with her bag of worries.This worry bag activity is a great one to use with your class to help them think about and discuss their emotions. It can be used as a morning starter activity to set them up for their day, or even as a standalone lesson alongside this Emotions PowerPoint. The Government in Wales has signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), stating that children and young people have rights, no matter who they are, where they live or what they believe in. Among the articles listed are: Schools: Schools play an important role in your life. There are school-based counsellors to help you with issues like bullying and depression. Wherever Jenny goes, her worries follow her - in a big blue bag. They are with her all the time - at school, at home, when she is watching TV and even in the bathroom! Jenny decides they have to go, but who will help her get rid of them? This Worry Poster is a great one to use for your classroom displays or at home. It gives practical advice for children if they’re unsure how to approach their concerns.