Trouble Dolls: A Tool to Practice Sharing Problems and Reducing Stress
Teacher and RCB Instructor Susan Michael Barrett shares a simple and beautiful way to teach children how to share their worries. As they say, a feeling expressed dissipates. This post originally appeared on Barrett’s blog Parental Gleanings on May 24, 2012.
“When you tell your troubles, they do not stay inside of your heart and grow.”
Today I told the children about Guatemalan trouble (worry) dolls and how they’re used and then asked, “Do you have a problem or trouble?” Hands flew up!“I didn’t get to carry my cat,” said one.Then, “My brother didn’t give me his book.”“Yes,” I exclaimed! “That is what to tell a trouble doll. When you tell your troubles, they do not stay inside of your heart and grow.”I slowly and carefully took out a trouble doll and held it close to my mouth. I whispered loud enough for the children to hear, “I woke up late, didn’t get to eat breakfast, and now I’m crabby.” Then I put the trouble doll away.They all wanted one!I was an adult before I learned the power of reducing stress by telling a trusted person my trouble. The trouble doll simply “listens.” Sharing with another who listens gives me a couple gifts: I feel heard, I get to hear myself tell my trouble, and in telling, I reduce my discomfort.I’ve used trouble dolls in preschool classrooms to teach this helpful practice. I place it in a small heart-shaped box on the peace table where a child can use it freely.
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Before I left, a trouble arose! A child found a large, furry caterpillar to place in a jar for observation and another child hoped it would be hers. The disappointed child told the trouble to the doll. Afterward, we headed out to the garden to search for insects. This large, black and white dragonfly caught her attention.
Each child will get a trouble doll to take home at the end of the day.
About Susan Michael Barrett:
“I am a parent and grandparent. I have 30 years of teaching experience for most ages from preschool through adult as an elementary, parent, and art museum educator. I’m a person who has spent time in classrooms with children and in book clubs with other parents trying to navigate the parenting path. I’ve made enough mistakes along the way to cause pause and reflection about who I am and how I think and behave. I’m still practicing to be a good parent, grandparent, and teacher. This blog is simply a sharing of my experiences. Think gleaning. Look for glimmers of hope, humor, and insight about principles–not recipes or formulas which I once thought was do this + don’t do that = good parenting. Parenting is more complex than that.”
You can read more of Susan Michael Barrett’s wisdom on her blog, Parental Gleanings.