Kindergarten: Tell Your Worries to a Worry Doll
Using wooden clothespins, colorful yarn and markers, kindergartners in Helen Valiant’s class made Guatemalan worry dolls after learning about global cultures. Children in Guatemala whisper their concerns and place the dolls under their pillows. Overnight, as the children sleep, the worry dolls take their worries away.
During the lesson, “They got to use their fine motor skills to wrap and cut the yarn and to draw faces on their dolls,” said Mrs. Valiant. “They are also learning important social-emotional skills like how to recognize and manage their fears in a healthy way.”
What are some things that worry kindergartners? Children in Mrs. Valiant’s class mentioned bad dreams, monsters, going down a fast slide, and darkness, such as when the power goes out at home. By transferring their worries to the dolls, we hope kindergartners are getting a good night’s sleep!
Learn more about Mrs. Valiant!
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
