When Fear Gets Big
When fear gets big, it can make small moments feel impossible. A first swim lesson, a new school, a doctor’s visit, a night in a separate bedroom, or even an everyday change can suddenly feel too big to face. That is exactly why I created the Fight BIG Fears™ Bundle: to give kids, parents, and even anxious adults a simple, comforting way to pause, breathe, and take one brave step forward.
What is the Fight BIG Fears™ Bundle?
The Fight BIG Fears™ Bundle is a small, sweet package that includes:
- the “Phoebe and phearnik!® Fight BIG Fears™” picture book;
- an adorable phearnik!® Courage Buddy™ plush; and
- a personal letter to each buyer.
Each Bundle is handcrafted, not mass-produced in a factory. The Courage Buddy™ plushies were made by hand in the aws Studios by the “Friends of phearnik!® Crafters” giving each its own personality.
The plush rag dolls are made with soft, child-friendly fabrics and are intended for children ages four and up. Because they are handmade, no two Courage Buddies are exactly alike—and that is part of their charm.
The picture book is self-published and printed by Lulu Publishing, offering purchasers an affordable children’s picture book written and illustrated by me.
Who Is the Fight BIG Fears™ Bundle For?
For Kids and Adults Who Want Help Facing Big Fears
The Fight BIG Fears™ Bundle is for fearful or anxious kids and adults who want a gentle, practical way to face something new.
It is especially helpful for parents whose children are afraid of doing new things, such as learning to swim, sleeping in their own bed for the first time, getting a shot, going to a new school, or going on new family outings like a hike through the woods.
The Bundle is also for adults who experience anxiety or feel fearful about stepping out of their comfort zone to try something they want or need to do.
Why I Made the Bundle
I made the Fight BIG Fears™ Bundle because big fears can stop kids and adults from trying things that matter to them. The Bundle gives them a safe, comforting way to make those fears feel small enough to take the next step.
How the Bundle Helps
The Bundle works through two pieces that are meant to be used together: the picture book and the Courage Buddy™ plush.
In the picture book, “Phoebe and phearnik!® Fight BIG Fears™”, Phoebe shows readers how she uses her Courage Buddy™ to face new experiences, step outside her comfort zone, and discover joy while keeping her fear small and not letting it get big.
Readers can then use their own Courage Buddy™ plush as a reminder to pause, breathe, let the breath out, and keep their fear small enough to move forward.
The Courage Buddy™ is not magic, and it does not erase anxiety. Instead, it acts as a comforting prompt. With practice, it can help kids and adults remember what to do when a big feeling shows up.
Comfort objects and slow breathing can be useful parts of a coping toolkit, especially when they help a person feel grounded, supported, and ready to take one manageable step at a time.
Who the Bundle Is Not For
The Fight BIG Fears™ Bundle is not for everyone, and that is okay.
If you want a mass-produced plush that looks like every other toy on the shelf, this Bundle probably is not the right fit. The Courage Buddy™ does not look like a typical round, fluffy, big-eyed toy. It looks more like a small doll, with a navy-blue jumpsuit, black eyes, a curious little mouth, and fun, colorful, wild hair.
If you need every item to look exactly the same, this may not be the Bundle for you. Each Courage Buddy™ is assembled by hand, so each one is unique.
But if you love originality, handmade details, and the idea that your child’s Courage Buddy™ has its own personality, then the Fight BIG Fears™ Bundle may be just what you are looking for.
Is the Book Any Good?
If you are wondering whether a self-published picture book is worth reading, I understand. Sometimes we choose a book because a friend recommends it. Sometimes we read the description, look at reviews, or preview a few pages before deciding.
You can do the same with “Phoebe and phearnik!® Fight BIG Fears™.” Before purchasing the Bundle, you can read the book description, look at reviews, preview the book, or read the full ePub edition if you want to know exactly what is inside.
What If You Do Not Think It Will Work for Your Child?
The Bundle will not work well if it simply sits on a shelf. It is meant to be read, practiced, and used.
1. Read the book together. If you do not read the book, you and your child may not understand what the Courage Buddy™ is, what it is for, or how to use it.
2. Help your child use the Courage Buddy™ . The Courage Buddy™ is a social-emotional learning tool that helps kids practice calming skills. Children often need a parent’s help while they are learning those skills.
When your child is experiencing anxiety or big fears, remind them to hold their Courage Buddy™ , stop, breathe in, breathe out, and make the fear small enough to try the next step.
3. Practice again and again. Learning how to calm big fears into small, safe fears takes practice. You can also model the process by using the Courage Buddy™ idea with your own fears or anxieties. For many adults, this could be having a fear of public speaking.
Will the Bundle Help a Friend With Anxiety?
It is hard to see friends or family members struggle with anxiety. We want to help, ease their pain, or even wish we could take it away completely.
It is a kind thing to consider giving them the Fight BIG Fears™ Bundle. But it is important to be clear about what the Bundle does and does not claim to do.
The Bundle does not claim to cure anxiety, eliminate every worry, or replace professional support. It is not meant to be a medical or therapeutic treatment.
What it can do is offer a comforting tool and a simple practice: pause, breathe, and keep a big fear small enough to stay safe and take one step forward.
For the Bundle to be useful, the person receiving it needs to understand how to use it and be willing to practice.
Can a Picture Book and Plush Really Help?
Yes, a picture book and plush can help when they are used as tools, not as magic fixes. The book gives the reader a story and a model. The plush gives them a physical reminder to pause, breathe, and try again.
This is the heart of the Fight BIG Fears™ Bundle: helping kids and adults fear less, feel supported, and take one brave step at a time.
Still Doubtful?
If you are thinking, “Really? A picture book and a plush are going to help with anxiety?” I get it.
Anxiety can be exhausting, embarrassing, and frustrating. It can keep people from doing things that seem easy for everyone else. So, skepticism makes sense.
I believe the book and plush can help because the phearnik!® Courage Buddy™ idea has helped me. Since childhood and into adulthood, I have dealt with irrational fears – fears that I was unable to keep “small” and got big. Using a Courage Buddy™ has helped me to remember to keep my fear small so that I can step out of my comfort zone again and again.
The Courage Buddy™ prompt also lines up with familiar calming strategies: noticing a big feeling, pausing, breathing slowly, and using a comforting object as a reminder to stay grounded.
But the Bundle will not help much if you do not use it. The three steps are simple: read the book, use the Courage Buddy™ when big fears show up, and practice often enough that the skill becomes familiar.
Ready to Help Big Fears Feel a Little Smaller?
If the Fight BIG Fears™ Bundle sounds like something your child, a loved one, or even you could use, I would love for you to take a closer look in my Etsy shop. Read about the Bundle, look at the book’s trailer if you would like, and choose the phearnik!®Courage Buddy™ that feels like the right little companion for the next brave step.
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