Weight Of Worry

The Cause

Weight of Worry is a neighborhood-level community initiative focused on addressing childhood anxiety through engaging, child-centric workshops. Recognizing that the space between the present and future often leads to worry, our initiative aims to illuminate anticipatory anxiety—a common yet often overlooked emotion in children. By creatively exploring these feelings, we empower children to navigate uncertainty with confidence and resilience.

CRATE aims to provide FREE Weight of Worry workshops for up to 360 elementary-aged children (ages 7 to 11). Through art-based practices, we equip participants with tools to understand and manage their emotions effectively, addressing the unique pressures children face today.

What sets CRATE’s workshop curriculum apart?
Child-Centric: Designed for ages 7 to 11, our content is developmentally appropriate, ensuring easy comprehension and application.
Resiliency-Building: Mindful strategies resonate with participants' cognitive levels, fostering emotional resilience.
Art-Based Exploration: Visual arts serve as the primary medium for intentional emotional exploration and expression.
Transportable Knowledge: The curriculum introduces age-appropriate stress reduction techniques that children can use throughout their lives.
Experiential Learning: Incorporating a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) component, we ignite creativity and imagination, making learning enjoyable.

The program will be delivered in all four quadrants of Calgary, hosted at various Calgary Public Library branches. We plan to launch in 2025, with the first workshop scheduled for February. Over 11 months, we will offer 22 workshops, each accommodating 15 participants, total 360 children.

Facilitated by Christy Herdman, a certified art therapist known for her compassion and creativity, each workshop will introduce engaging tools to enhance emotional well-being.

With the requested funds, we will cover materials, promotional efforts to reach families, and workshop facilitation. Weight of Worry aspires to cultivate compassion and enhance emotional intelligence in the next generation by crafting resilience-building, art-based tools for emotional-wellness.

Who Will it Benefit?

The Weight of Worry workshops are designed to benefit several key groups within the community:

Children (Ages 7-11): The primary beneficiaries are the children participating in the workshops. By exploring anticipatory anxiety through art, they will learn to identify, express, and manage their emotions effectively. This age group often grapples with uncertainties surrounding school, friendships, and family dynamics. The skills they gain will not only help them navigate current challenges but also equip them for future emotional hurdles.

Parents and Caregivers: As children develop coping strategies and emotional intelligence, parents and caregivers will notice positive changes in their child’s behavior and emotional health. Workshops will also provide parents with insights into the emotional landscape their children are navigating, fostering better communication and understanding within families.

Community at Large: By fostering a culture of emotional intelligence and resilience, the workshops will have a ripple effect on the community. As children learn to manage their emotions, the overall atmosphere in schools and neighborhoods will improve, leading to more compassionate interactions among peers. This initiative can help reduce stigma around mental health, promoting open discussions about emotional well-being.

Local Mental Health Resources: By addressing childhood anxiety proactively, the Weight of Worry workshops can reduce the demand for crisis-oriented mental health services in the community. Early intervention through education and coping strategies may lead to fewer children needing intensive support later on.

Weight of Worry initiative not only empowers children with essential emotional skills but also enriches families and the wider community.