Worry Jar for Kids: How to Make One (Free Printable)

A worry jar is a small jar where your child posts their worries on paper slips, so the worry lives in the jar instead of in their head. You write or draw the worry, fold it up, drop it in, and close the lid. That small act gives a big feeling somewhere to go.

You can make one tonight with a jar you already have at home. Grab the free printable worry slips and labels below, print them, and you're ready to start.

What is a worry jar?

A worry jar is a jar your child uses to hold their worries. When something is bugging them, they write it on a slip of paper or draw a picture of it, then post it through the lid. The jar keeps the worry safe so your child doesn't have to keep thinking about it.

Some families call it a worry box or a worry monster. The idea is the same. Your child has a clear, simple ritual: name the worry, let it go, and trust that it's handled for now. For a wider look at how anxiety shows up in young kids, our parents' guide to childhood anxiety walks you through the signs and what helps.

Why a worry jar helps anxious kids

When a worry stays inside your child's head, it grows. They turn it over and over, and it follows them to the dinner table and into bed. A worry jar helps in two ways.

First, it gets the worry out. Naming a fear and putting it on paper turns a foggy feeling into something your child can see and hold. This is sometimes called externalizing the worry, and it makes the fear smaller and easier to talk about.

Second, it parks the worry. Your child agrees to set it aside until later, which means they don't have to solve it right now. That matters most at bedtime, when worries get loud and there's nothing to do but lie there. Posting the worry in the jar tells your child's brain that it's somewhere safe and can wait until tomorrow.

Want a free workbook to start with today? Our most popular free download is the Anger Management for Kids calm-down workbook — grab it free today. And you'll find the Catch the Worry Bugs workbook in the SteadyKid catalog.

How to make a worry jar (step by step)

1. Choose a jar. An empty jam jar, a clean plastic tub, a tin, or a small box all work. Pick something with a lid your child can open and close on their own.
2. Decorate it together. Let your child paint it, add stickers, wrap it in paper, or draw a friendly face on the front. When they make it their own, they use it more.
3. Write or draw the worry on a slip. Use the free printable worry slips below, or tear up plain paper. Younger kids can draw the worry instead of writing it.
4. Post it in the jar. Fold the slip, drop it through the lid, and close it up. This is the moment the worry leaves your child and goes into the jar.
5. Agree a worry time. Pick a regular time to open the jar together and look at the slips, maybe after school or once a week. Knowing there's a set time to revisit worries helps your child let them go in the meantime.

Want printable slips and a jar label ready to go? Grab them from our free printables hub and print as many as you need.

How to use it without feeding the worry

The worry jar works because it gives the worry a home and a boundary. The thing that quietly undoes it is endless reassurance. When your child posts a worry and then asks you the same question ten times, answering every time teaches their brain that the worry needs your attention to feel safe.

Try this instead. When your child brings up a worry that's already in the jar, you can say, Good idea to put that in the jar. We'll look at it at worry time. Keep your tone warm and steady. You're not brushing them off. You're showing them the jar is doing its job and the worry can wait.

At worry time, open the jar together. Read the slips. Some worries will have shrunk or sorted themselves out, and your child can rip those up and bin them. For the ones that are still real, talk through one small next step. Then close the jar back up.

Worry jar by age (3-5, 6-8, 9-10)

Ages 3-5

Little kids can't write yet, so keep it simple. Your child draws a scribble or a face for the worry, or just tells you and you write it down for them. Make the posting part fun, like feeding the jar. At this age, the ritual matters more than the words.

Ages 6-8

Most kids this age can write a few words or a short sentence. Let them spell things their own way. This is a good age to set a regular worry time, since they understand later and can wait for it. Sit with them while they write if they want company.

Ages 9-10

Older kids often want more privacy. Let them fold their slips so you can't read them, and let them lead worry time. You can shift into a coach role here, asking what one small step might help rather than fixing it for them. Some kids this age prefer a notebook or a sealed box to a see-through jar.

Worry jar variations

The worry jar isn't the only version of this idea. If your child likes a bit of play, try a worry monster box. You make or buy a box with a mouth, and the monster eats the worries when your child posts them. Some kids love the idea of a creature gobbling up their fears.

Worry stones are another option for kids who like something to hold. Your child picks a smooth stone, and when they feel worried they rub it with their thumb and pass the worry into the stone. It travels in a pocket, so it works when you're out. For more hands-on tools like these, our free anxiety worksheets for kids give you printable activities to try together.

Ready to start? Download the free Anger Management for Kids workbook today, then explore the Catch the Worry Bugs workbook and the full range in the SteadyKid catalog.

Frequently asked questions

What is a worry jar?

A worry jar is a jar where your child posts their worries on paper slips. Writing or drawing a worry and dropping it in the jar gives the feeling a place to go, so your child doesn't have to carry it in their head.

How does a worry jar help kids?

It helps in two ways. Putting a worry on paper gets it out of your child's head and makes it feel smaller. Posting it in the jar parks the worry so they can set it aside, which is a big help at bedtime.

How do you make a worry jar?

Choose a jar with a lid, decorate it together, then write or draw each worry on a slip and post it through the lid. Agree a regular worry time to open the jar and look at the slips together.

When should my child use the worry jar?

Any time a worry feels too big to hold, and especially at bedtime. Posting the worry before sleep tells your child's brain the worry is handled for now and can wait until your agreed worry time.

Where can I get free printable worry jar slips?

You can print free worry slips and a jar label from our free printables hub. Print as many as your child needs and start tonight.