In everyday conversations about worries, children often find it easier to reflect when the experience is broken into small, story-like steps. My Worry Map gives kids a visual way to look back at an anxious moment, notice what happened first, identify what made the worry grow, and recognise the choice that helped them move towards an ending.
A simple four-step layout helps children put an anxious experience into order without needing long written answers. The page is organised like a journey, with boxes labelled Start, Middle, Crossroads and Finish, each offering a clear prompt to guide reflection.
The Start box asks, “What happened first?”, which can help a child name the trigger or situation that began the worry. The Middle box asks what made the worry bigger, supporting awareness of thoughts, feelings, body sensations or events that increased anxiety.
The Crossroads section focuses on the helpful choice, making it useful for children who are learning coping skills, problem solving or emotional regulation. The Finish box asks how it ended, giving space to notice outcomes, reassurance, support from others, or what could be tried next time.
Parents, teachers, school counsellors, play therapists and child mental health practitioners could use it after a worry episode, during a calm reflection time, or as part of anxiety support work. It is especially suited to primary-aged children who respond well to visual worksheets, storytelling, CBT-style reflection and gentle prompts rather than lots of text.
