Worry Pets, Pocket Pals & Travel Wees, Oh MY!
/Doing research for an upcoming workshop at a children’s hospital I came across an idea I had seen a few times: Travel Wees. I am now, kind of obsessed.
Travel Wee from Etsy
Travel Wees: A cute bundle of fluff that comes in an Altoids tin that you can take traveling with you.
(It seems more likely, it’s a kids toy, but you’re only as old as you feel, right?) I’d seen the Wees having gotten into gnome gardens and miniatures, shadow boxes, etc. last year. I love these little guys came with a fun story, decorated home and could fit in your pocket.
I even found a Travel Wee Facebook page - combining treasuring hunting and these little creatures. How fun!
I then started seeing variations of the same idea in the form of “Pocket Pals” “Softies” “Fitz” even a few traveling Gnomes.
My favorite was the critters that I have found were the breed tailored for helping with mental health. Going by an assortment of different names, these little guys all focused on helping a child with anxiety, fear or sadness. The soft little companion would act as a stress relief to be squeezed, talked to or cuddled. Some in the forms of pillows, dolls or just tiny blobs. All with the same goal: to take away negative feelings.
What a great idea! Teaching kids early:
that worries come and go
to talk to someone about worries or anxieties
to step away and leave your worries for a while
I even saw a few adults could get away with having.
Pretend this little guy is a paper weight at the office?
All of this reminding me of the Worry Dolls my mother gave me when I was a kid, as I dealt with anxiety. I hid the little guys in my desk at school.
Worry dolls (also called trouble dolls; in Spanish, Muñeca quitapena) are small, hand-made dolls that originate from Guatemala. According to legend, Guatemalan children tell their worries to the Worry Dolls, placing them under their pillow when they go to bed at night. By morning the dolls have gifted them with the wisdom and knowledge to eliminate their worries.
Interesting how the idea came from Guatemala and I myself later went to Guatemala. :)
I cannot wait to pitch the idea of these little critters to the children’s hospital!
The activity will be to help the kids to decorate homes for their new pet.
The homes of course being Altoids boxes.