Worry Box / Worry Monster
Blank worries-to-post template.
The Worry Box / Worry Monster template is a blank printable that gives young learners a concrete, physical way to externalise and release anxious thoughts. Students write or draw their worry on the template, fold or cut it out, and 'post' it into a class worry box or hand it to a worry monster character the teacher keeps in the room. Designed for Kindergarten through Grade 5, it turns an abstract emotional experience into a tangible, manageable action. Teachers in early childhood and primary classrooms use the template as part of morning check-ins or circle time, especially at the start of the year, before tests, or during unsettled periods. School counselors keep a stack for drop-in visits. The blank format means children write, draw, or dictate whatever is on their mind — from a lost toy to a family worry — without any prescribed structure that might not fit their specific concern.
Learning objectives
- Give children a healthy, concrete outlet for naming and releasing worries
- Reduce anxiety by externalising concerns through writing or drawing
- Build emotional vocabulary around worry, fear, and uncertainty
- Develop self-regulation by practising a calming, structured routine
- Foster a classroom culture where feelings are acknowledged safely
- Support early writing by giving purposeful, personal content to write about
How to use this template
- Download and print the template, then cut out the worry slip or individual monster-mouth frame — one per student or as many as needed for the session.
- Introduce the worry box or worry monster to the class: explain that once a worry is written down and posted, the monster 'eats' it or the box 'holds' it so the child's brain can rest.
- Students write or draw their worry on the blank space provided, keeping entries private or sharing if they choose.
- Students fold the slip and place it in the class worry box or pop it through the worry monster's cut-out mouth.
- At the end of the week, hold a brief class circle where you (without reading aloud) acknowledge that worries were heard, then recycle the slips to close the loop symbolically.
Classroom & home ideas
- Morning drop-in routine: place the template and a pencil at the classroom door so students can post a worry before sitting down, clearing headspace for learning.
- Counselor corner: set up a permanent worry-posting station near the classroom door or in the school counselor's office with a supply of blank templates.
- Paired worry share: after writing, students fold their slip and swap with a trusted partner who responds with one kind word — building empathy alongside self-regulation.
- Before-test calm-down: distribute the template five minutes before a test so students can write down any worried thoughts, 'park' them in the box, and focus on the task ahead.
- Home worry jar: send a small stack of template pages home so families can set up their own worry jar, using the same language and ritual the child knows from school.
Skills & curriculum links
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Worry Box and the Worry Monster version?
The template includes both options: a plain slip designed to be folded and placed in any box or jar, and a worry monster frame with a cut-out mouth opening so the slip can be 'fed' to the monster. Teachers choose whichever physical prop suits their classroom setup.
What if a student writes a worry that needs adult follow-up, like a safety concern?
It is important to establish from the start that you will read slips if a child's safety might be at risk. Frame it to students as: 'If your worry is about staying safe, I will always help.' Review slips privately before recycling them at week's end.
Can non-writers use this template?
Yes. The blank space works just as well for drawing a picture of the worry. Pre-readers can also dictate their worry to a teaching assistant, who writes it down for them.
How do I make the physical worry monster prop?
Print the template, decorate it with googly eyes and yarn hair if you like, cut out the mouth opening, and attach it to a box or envelope. The slip slides through the mouth opening when posted.
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