When things are unpredictable, it’s normal to feel anxious (hello new school year; hello puberty).
When adults are anxious, kids absorb that anxiety and add it to their own, magnifying the impact. And when kids are anxious (like maybe now as they see the back to school supplies rolling out), it's really common to see it in their behaviors: avoidance, meltdowns, overreactions, one-track-thinking.
As parents, it's natural to want to “fix” everything, but it's so much better if we teach our children healthy ways to manage those big emotions on their own.
My favorite DIY tool for anxiety is a glitter jar. I promise, it can help anyone (including you), and there are several uses. Highly respected mental health and mindfulness experts endorse the glitter jar for a variety of uses: a daily mindfulness practice, increasing focus & mental clarity, or simply settling the mind when it's overwhelmed with big emotions.
Our discussion with Dr. Lisa Damour explained best HOW and WHY it helps with anxiety and emotional meltdowns. You can check out that discussion HERE, so no need for me to repeat it, BUT I'm going to share with you how to make one (because I love anything crafty).
Remind your child that the glitter jar represents our mind when we’re calm compared to when we’re upset, angry or distracted. When the glitter is settled on the bottom, we can see clearly through the fluid just like when we’re focused and calm, our mind can think clearly.
Shaking the jar is like being upset or distracted – thoughts, like the glitter, are swirling and it’s hard to think clearly. So when your child is experiencing big emotions (or just needs to focus or relax) – have her shake the glitter jar, set it down, and watch it.
As the glitter settles, so will her mind and her emotions, allowing her to think and communicate more clearly.
It’s like magic.
Here's what you'll need to make one:
- Plastic water bottle or glass jar + lid (consider your child's age and risk of breaking it)
- Clear School Glue
- Glitter + maybe some larger stars or other shaped sparkles
- Warm Water
- A funnel (you can make one out of paper)
- Hot glue optional but recommended
Here's how to make it:
- Fill about ¼ of the bottle with glue (more glue = longer time for glitter to settle)
- Add about 1-2 tablespoons of glitter (and a few larger sparkles if you want) using the funnel.
- Fill the rest of the bottle with warm water but leave a little room at the top.
- Cap the bottle and shake it to see if you want to add more glue, more glitter, or just more water.
- Once you have it right, fill the rest of the bottle, add a little hot glue or regular glue to the threads on the cap, and screw it on.
I highly recommend everyone in your family makes their own (just be prepared to practice your own deep breathing or mindfulness as they scatter glitter in the process). 🧘🏽♀️
Did you know Girlology has grade-by-grade playlists listing on-demand video and downloadable content to support her and you through the entire journey? Learn More
