Worry Stones and Grounding Tools for Children

Worry Stones and Grounding Tools for Children

If you’re here, you probably know what it’s like to watch a child struggle with big emotions — worry, sadness, excitement that turns fizzy, or anger that feels too heavy to hold.

I'm Hayley Rennie, a Specialist Mental Health and Neurodiversity Mentor at the University of Sheffield, and someone who believes that small, simple supports can make a real difference.

These worry stones are made for moments just like those.

Each one is paired with a backing card that gently names a feeling and offers a short poem I’ve written to help children understand what’s happening inside them — and to remind them that it’s okay to feel what they feel.

You’ll also find a few grounding techniques on the following pages you can use together, turning a small stone into a steady, comforting tool your child can reach for whenever they need it. Because sometimes, just having something solid to hold can make all the difference.

Each emotion stone is also part of a story set in Huggle Hollow – a gentle world where all the characters live and each story explores a different emotion.

To support further mindfulness and creativity, there’s also a growing range of colouring sheets designed for children, and fact sheets full of helpful, accessible information for parents, carers, and teachers.

Because sometimes, just having something solid to hold can make all the difference.

Quick Start

In a hurry?
Here’s a simple way to use your stone when you need calm, fast:

Hold. Feel. Breathe.

• Hold the stone gently.
  
  

• Feel its weight and texture.
  
  

• Breathe together until the moment softens.