Holiday Gift Guide- Worry Woos- Review and Giveaway!

December 4, 2010 by Samantha 164 Comments

Disclosure: In any review for a product or service, products or compensation may have been provided to me to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” and "Terms of Use" tabs for more information.

First of all, I love the concept. Monsters in my head is a really great idea, as are the Worry Woos themselves. Having these great books to read to kids, as well as the sturdy, sweet plush stuffed animals that “match” each book, help kids identify, recognize, and validate their emotions. The message of “Embracing your Emotions” is an important one. Kids that are able to express themselves as well as recognize their own emotions and deal with them are less likely to develop “bad habits” or have low self esteem, and are more likely to succeed academically. The sources I can use to cite this are endless.
The books explore complex emotions that all children have likely felt at sometime or another.
The lovable plush characters bring the stories to life, as well as help the child feel both comforted and comforting. I noticed with Nola, the Monster of Loneliness, that the kids seemed to want to make her feel loved, as well as that they used her to help themselves not feel sad and lonely.

I brought Nola and her book to the school one day with a particular child in mind, who has been miserable since her brother left to go to another school. (He aged out and is in public school now.) She has cried for him endlessly. We all read about Nola’s troubles, and talked about what Nola had to figure out to feel better. This child held on to the stuffed Nola all day long, and tried to make Nola feel better so Nola was not lonly anymore. The child also took a nap with Nola, so Nola wasn’t alone at that time, either. When the time came that Nola had to go home for the day, the child told me it would be OK, because Nola was going to go home with all the other Monsters now, and she was going to go home to her brother in a few hours, and now she was going to play with her friends. !?! It had been months since she played with her friends. MONTHS. I think that just by knowing she was not alone in this sad and awful feeling of being lonely, the child felt validated. I also think that because she was able to “help” Nola, she felt like she could move forward a bit in her own struggle with this feeling.

Besides using these books in the school, where the kids loved them, and we had some really cute discussions, I brought the Worry Woos to our Adopted Families group. The kids there have a wide age range, and come from a variety of backgrounds. There are some emotional issues there. Yep. I wanted to let the kids and parents try the books out and see what they thought of them. Fuddle and Rue were popular monsters there. Only a few of the kids were adopted older and have memories of birth families or birth countries, but almost all of them have identity issues and personal conflicts of one kind or another. I think the simple stories (though the emotions are not simple, the stories are straightforward and easy to follow) and sweet, lovable characters made it easier to talk. Plus, since we are talking only about the monster’s sadness, and not our own (of course), it is easier to talk about, right? It was an insightful day, and I was again glad that our moderator is a therapist.

I lent them to the group’s therapist to use, as well as my daughter’s own BMT, both of whom thought they were great books for children. I know I didn’t mention Squeek, and I should- this little Monster is afraid to go out and try new things. Without the protective bubble, what will happen? Squeek is not a “lesser monster” by any means, I just happened to have had more kids respond to other Monsters, but that was my experience. The kids at school really took to Squeek, and our group discussions went to times that we were afraid to try new things or new foods, and when our mom’s had babies, or we went to school for the first time. I brought in a Worry Woo a day (except Friday, show and tell day) for a week. Nola came all week long for that one child I had mentioned.

Worry Woos won a ton of awards, and instead of listing each Monster’s award, I am just going to mention the some of the awards won by the series;
iParenting Media HOT Award Winner, iParenting Media Award Winner, 2009 TD Monthly Top Toy Award, 2008 MoonBeam Children’s Book Award, Creative Child Top Toy Award, 2010 Kidlutions Preferred Product Award, and others!
After having reviewed these toys and books, it’s easy to see why they won so many awards!
This is a great series, and I am barely resisting the temptation to start citing sources as to why they are beneficial, and how they can be helpful, as well as other psychology and behavioral “fun facts”, LOL, and just focus on my personal experience and actual product review. But they are really great, and I do think that they can actually benefit all children, and that if you have a child who may have some emotional needs (or if you are moving, starting a new school, having a baby, having any life changes that may seem scary or confusing) that your child can really benefit from this series.

Sorry for this super long review. When there is something this special out there, I have to shout it out! As a teacher, as a student, as a mom, as a woman whose SN child has experienced lots of therapy and approaches for emotional issues (remember, older child adoption) I can’t say enough good things about Worry Woos. But I will stop talking now, before I bore you terribly!
You can buy Worry Woos HERE
and
You can win a Worry Woo of your own!
Here is how to enter!
Mandatory entry

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Yay, so many ways to win! Good luck!

DISCLOSURE: A product sample was provided for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed in this post are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above. Sponsor is responsible for providing and sending prize. Ends Dec 18, 2010.