Invent a phobia and design a solution. Activities for Kids.

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Invent a phobia and design a solution

Invent a made-up phobia, draw its scary symbol, and design a comforting tool or game that helps someone feel brave and calm.

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Step-by-step guide to invent a phobia, draw its scary symbol, and design a comforting tool or game

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FEAR for Kids 😱 What is fear? 😰 Emotions for Kids

What you need

Adult supervision required, cardboard or small box, coloring materials, paper, pencil, scissors, soft fabric or small toy, sticky notes, tape or glue

Step 1

Think up a funny or spooky made-up phobia name and write it big at the top of your paper.

Step 2

Write one short sentence that explains what makes this phobia feel scary.

Step 3

Imagine a simple symbol or little creature for the phobia and draw it in the center of the paper.

Step 4

Use your coloring materials to add bold lines and colors to make the symbol look spooky.

Step 5

Brainstorm three comforting ideas that could help someone feel brave and calm and write each idea on a separate sticky note.

Step 6

Pick your favorite comforting idea and draw a quick sketch of the tool or game on your paper.

Step 7

Gather cardboard and cut the shapes you need to build the tool or game.

Step 8

Tape or glue the cardboard shapes together to make the base of your comforting tool or the game pieces.

Step 9

Attach soft fabric or a small toy piece and decorate your tool with bright colors and happy symbols.

Step 10

Write two short instructions on a sticky note that explain how to use the tool or play the game to feel brave.

Step 11

Pretend you are scared and use your new tool or play your game one time to see how it helps you calm down.

Step 12

Share your finished creation on DIY.org and include the phobia name the scary symbol and a short note about how your tool or game helps someone feel brave.

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

Complete & Share

Help!?

If we don't have sticky notes, soft fabric, or cardboard, what can we use instead?

Use small squares cut from printer paper or index cards for the sticky notes, a clean sock scrap, felt, ribbon, or cotton balls instead of soft fabric, and a cereal box, pizza box, or mailing box flattened for the cardboard you need to cut and build the base.

My cardboard pieces keep tearing or the glue won't hold when I tape or glue the shapes together—what should we try?

Score fold lines with a blunt knife before cutting thin cardboard, reinforce glued seams with clear tape or an extra layer of cardboard, and use hot glue with adult help or strong craft glue and allow full drying time after the 'Tape or glue the cardboard shapes together' step.

How can I adapt this activity for different ages?

For younger kids, have an adult pre-write the phobia name, pre-cut the cardboard shapes and let them use stickers and crayons for the 'draw' and 'decorate' steps, while older kids can design moving parts, measured templates, or electronics, write more complex game rules, and take photos to 'share' on DIY.org.

What are easy ways to enhance or personalize our comforting tool or game?

Add a favorite scent to the attached fabric, glue on a small toy or bell for sound, include extra happy-symbol stickers and bold colors from your coloring materials, or make a tiny instruction booklet to go with the two short sticky-note instructions before sharing the finished creation on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to invent a phobia, draw its scary symbol, and design a comforting tool or game

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Afraid of the Dark? How to Help Kids Overcome Fear

4 Videos

Facts about emotional regulation and coping strategies for kids

🎨 Art therapy helps people show scary feelings through drawing or play instead of just words.

🎮 Games and playful steps are often used by therapists to help someone face a fear safely.

🤝 Sharing a worry with a friend or using a comfort tool (like a worry stone or brave badge) can make fear feel smaller.

🧠 The word "phobia" comes from the Greek word phobos, which means fear or panic!

📚 There are thousands of named phobias — and making up a silly one is a creative way to explore feelings.

How do you do the 'invent a phobia' and calming tool activity with a child?

To do this activity, start by asking the child to invent a playful name for a made-up phobia and describe what makes it feel scary. Have them draw the phobia’s scary symbol on paper. Next brainstorm comforting tools or a calming game—like a squeeze plush, a breathing dice, or a “bravery box”—and sketch or build a prototype. Finish by role-playing how the tool helps someone feel brave and calm. Keep tone light and supportive throughout.

What materials do I need to invent a made-up phobia and design a comforting tool?

You’ll need basic craft supplies: paper, pencils, markers or crayons, scissors, glue, and stickers. Add simple materials for a prototype like fabric scraps, felt, stuffing, a small box, elastic, or pom-poms. Optional: cardstock, colored tape, a timer or dice for a calming game, and labels. Use child-safe scissors and non-toxic glue. Choose items you already have to keep this low-cost and easy to set up.

What ages is this phobia-invention and calming-tool activity suitable for?

This activity works for ages about 3–14 with adult guidance. Preschoolers (3–5) can invent simple phobia names and draw symbols with help; use large crayons and basic comfort toys. Ages 6–9 can design simple prototypes and play role-play games. Ages 10–14 can plan multi-step calming tools or rules and refine designs. Always adapt complexity, supervise small parts, and follow the child’s emotional cues—skip details if a child seems upset.

What are the benefits, safety tips, and variations for this activity?

This activity builds emotional vocabulary, creativity, and problem-solving while letting children rehearse coping strategies in a playful way. Safety tips: avoid naming or encouraging real fears, use non-toxic materials, supervise small pieces, and stop if a child becomes distressed. Variations: turn it into a group game where children swap phobias and share calming tools, make a comic strip about bravery, or create a sensory “calm kit” with textures, scents, and a breathing prompt.

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