Firstly, it's we. So, the first thing you need to do is explain to your child what a worry box is. It's important that your explanation helps them understand the following:

1. We All Worry Sometimes: It's normal to worry at times. It's important your child knows that worrying doesn't mean they are bad in any way. Talking about this openly with them, without rushing to reassure them, is the first step.

2. This Box Is Where Worries Go: Worrying shouldn't ruin everything we enjoy about life. It's normal to worry, but it's also normal to find ways to cope.

3. I'm In This With You: You are doing this activity together. As many times as you need. This reinforces the first two steps, and makes the task let daunting.

Choose A Box/Container

This is an important one, because this is an important place to choosing the container is an important part of the exercise. Here are some considerations around your choice:

• Is it going to be a cardboard box? A wooden box? Maybe a jar! Are you buying it or making it?

• If you're using a cardboard box, seal the lid with some Sellotape and make a slit in the top—kind of like a piggy bank or a ballot box.

• If it's a jar or a wooden box, make sure your child can easily open it.

• You might want to get fancy with some string to tie it closed—but not too fancy. Your child needs to be able to undo that knot!

Decorate The Chosen Box/Container

Provide a bunch of materials for your child to decorate with. If you're going shopping for them, and you can, maybe select the products together and give your child some autonomy. Here is a good list to get you started, and you maybe have a lot of it laying around anyway:

• Felt tip pens and colour pencils

• Paints—this might make you feel anxious, but try and trust the process.

• Wrapping of tissue paper, or coloured card.

• Stickers and glitter.

• Some of the above might mean you need glue—Pritt Stick or PVC maybe.

That is probably a core list, but you might also consider the following:

• Sequins

• Pom-poms

• Ribbons   

• Fabric scraps

• Wrapping paper

• Magazine cut-outs

• Photos or pictures

• Beads or buttons

• Feathers

• Natural materials like leaves or twigs, which have been dried and sealed.

Decorate The Box/Container

Provide a bunch of materials for your child to decorate with. If you're going shopping for them, and you can, maybe select the products together and give your child some autonomy. Here is a good list to get you started, and you maybe have a lot of it laying around anyway:

• Felt tip pens and colour pencils

• Paints—this might make you feel anxious, but try and trust the process.

• Wrapping of tissue paper, or coloured card.

• Stickers and glitter.

• Some of the above might mean you need glue—Pritt Stick or PVC maybe.

That is probably a core list, but you might also consider the following:

• Sequins

• Pom-poms

• Ribbons   

• Fabric scraps

• Wrapping paper

• Magazine cut-outs

• Photos or pictures

• Beads or buttons

• Feathers

• Natural materials like leaves or twigs, which have been dried and sealed

Label The Box/Container

This almost goes in with the above section, but it's important enough to warrant its own section—somewhere, you need to write the words 'Worry Box' in a visible place so you and your child are agreed what it is.

Prepare Some Blank Slips

You can do this alone or with your child. Just cut up some A4 or A3 paper into long strips, like ribbons.

Agree A Place To Keep It

This is an important for a few reasons. It etablishes a contract around the box, and how it used and how to think about it. As far as possible, let your child lead on where it is kept. Here are some things to consider when making this decision together:

• Try to avoid in or next to your child's bedroom—keep some distance between their safe space and their worries. If you find your child worries a lot about things that are your job to manage as a parent or carer, maybe this is a chance to work on that and tell them you can handle this.

• They might want a discreet place to put this, rather than on display—so maybe a kitchen or living room cupboard. They might just as much be comfortable with having it on the side in the kitchen or on the mantlepiece, try not to influence this and see what they say. 

Agree A Tim and Place To Use It Together

The key part of this is that it is something you do together. It's not something you look through without them, and it's not something they do constantly. This is to contain and contextualise worries. Consider, is it:

1. A certain time every week, or

2. As and when your child feels particularly anxious.

Remember, this is something you do together, so set good rules together and try to stick to them. Let both of you refer to them.

Get Your Child To Write Down Their Worries

At your agreed time, do this on a regular basis. Give them a pen and the blank slips. You can write for your child if they need this.

Ask Your Child To Share Their Worries With You

This is a bit formulaic, so:

1. Ask them to share the worries with you one by one.

2. Spend some time both of you just thinking about and acknowledging this worry; you can repeat the worry back to them to demonstrate your understanding.

3. If you can, maybe ask your child want solving this worry might look like, or come up with a plan or strategies together.

4. When you're done with one worry, ask your child to fold it up and put it in the box.

Repeat this until you're done.

Leave The Worries In The Box, Put The Box In Its Place

With your child, recognise that the worries have gone in the box and that is where they stay—in the box. They belong to the box now and can be let go. Now you're done, follow the process you agreed together of shutting the box and putting it away.

Finish Up By Thinking About Something Positive

Nothing elaborate—maybe you did something fun together recently, or watched a fun film. It can be anything. This is important for the process so you can feel that you have processed the worries and moved onto positivity.