Tag: mental health

Trix Are For Kids! But phearnik!® is Not (just for kids)

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Adults and Irrational Fears

Previously, I wrote about phearnik!® and how to use it with kids. In addition, the little plush also helps adults overcome irrational fears and anxiety.

In the US, nearly 20% of adults deal with irrational fears and anxiety. Treatment often involves exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which helps individuals gradually confront their fears and learn coping mechanisms. These include relaxation techniques, exercise, support from friends or professionals and practicing mindfulness. [Google AI]

Shows a black and white illustration of a young girl looking stressed
Icon by Soni Sokell

The  phearnik!® plush provides a way to practice mindfulness. Also, I didn’t make it for kids. I made it for an adult…me!

Fear Of The Blank Canvas

A picture of a man with a fear of the blank canvas. He is sitting in front of a canvas on an easel scratching his head like he doesn't know what he's going to paint. The picture resembles a Norman Rockwell painting of himself in front of his canvas scratching his head.
Collage illustration from the “Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears” picture book

As an artist, I often dealt with a “fear of the blank canvas.” It’s like the “fear of the blank page” or “writers’ block” that some writers experience.

While it’s impossible to know the exact number of writers in the US who experience writer’s block or fear of the blank page, it’s a common experience, even for those considered successful. 

The same is true for artists. It’s impossible to put an exact number on how many artists in the US experience “blank canvas syndrome.” Still, it is recognized as a common experience among artists from newbies to seasoned professionals.

Overcoming Fear of the Blank Canvas

For years, I studied what I could do about my irrational fears and anxiety of the blank canvas. I read books like Art and Fear, Affirmations for Artists, and The Artist’s Way. But none of these helped me break through my debilitating fears until I read Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Big Magic: Creative living beyond fear.” 

Gilbert’s “… Road Trip”

In the book, Gilbert offers a new way for artists to confront their fears. Instead of trying to ignore it or get over it or get rid of it, she suggests we accept and acknowledge fear. In a vignette titled, “The Road Trip,” Gilbert uses the metaphor of taking a road trip as a lesson in acknowledging fear.

A picture of a man driving a car with a girl holding her doll in the backseat with a phearnik! strapped in beside her. The phearnik represents fear sitting in the back seat as explained in "The Road Trip" by Elizabeth Gilbert.

On the trip, you bring fear along, but it must sit in the backseat. And it doesn’t get to control anything. It doesn’t get to drive, and it definitely doesn’t get to control the radio.

This idea of acknowledging fear but not letting it take control was, for me, revolutionary. I immediately embraced this new way to deal with my irrational fears. I liked the idea of  embracing fear. It makes sense because it’s always there. But it needs restraint. It needs to be kept  in its place, restricted, tamped down.

The Birth of phearnik!® 

An illustration from the "Phoebe and phearnik!® Fight BIG Fears"children’s book that helps kids overcome their fears.

I wanted something to represent this fear in “the back seat,” an actual “thing.” This “thing” would remind me to practice the skill of keeping fear “small” or in its place. It is how and why I created phearnik!®  –  my “little fear.” And it works.

phearnik!®  Works

My phearnik!® helped me with, not only my fear of the blank canvas, but as a way to practice mindfulness to overcome fear in other areas of my life. It has helped me do what I have needed to do to bring this concept to others. I believe artists and others who struggle to overcome their irrational fears would benefit from a reminder to keep their fear under control. I believe this could help them live more fearlessly while experiencing new things and adventures.

Get the Free “5 Steps to Help Anxious Kids Build Courage”
Sign up to be the first to find out when the “5 Easy Steps to Overcome Fear and Anxiety” for adults becomes available

How About You?

Are you an adult dealing with irrational fears? Have you struggled with letting your fears get the best of you? Maybe you’re artist or writer that has experienced fear of the blank canvas or page? Or are you someone who would like to make art but you are afraid of what people would say about it?

If this is you, do you think a phearnik!® could help you remember to keep your fear “small” and in its place? Do you think having the little plush around could help you fight your fears? Tell us what you think about it in the Comments.

Want To Know More?

If you would like to know more about phearnik, join the phearnik! Campaign.

Help bring the plush to all who could use its subtle power!

Join the phearnik! Campaign and support Kids’ mental health

If you’re inclined, give this post a “Like!” 

Share this post. You may help someone overcome their fears.

* Sources: Blank Canvas and Writers’ Block

Parent Sharing, the Best Parenting Education

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Parenting Struggles

When I parented my first-born, I didn’t know about the power of parent sharing. Instead, I often struggled on my own. This created a growing frustration with not always knowing what to do when, as a toddler, she misbehaved.

One time, I asked my mother for help. Her reply, “Oh, I never had that problem. You were so good.” Obviously, my mother didn’t remember her “yardstick” parenting strategy. As a tiny tot when I disobeyed, she came after me – stick in hand. Though, more often than not, she used it to threaten me, not hit me. Even so, this was not a strategy I wanted to use with my children. Poor memory or not, my mother was no help.

A humorous illustration of the "old woman and the shoe" depicting parenting a lot of children.

Parenting Classes

One day, I mentioned my frustration to my health care provider. She suggested I enroll in a parenting class provided by our health maintenance/insurance organization. 

Who me?! A parenting class?!

With an air of superiority, I thought, “Who me? A parenting class? Weren’t they for parents involved with child protective services? Weren’t they for parents who abused their kids and had them taken away?” That wasn’t me! Plus, I was a college graduate! I had a degree! I shouldn’t need parenting education! But, actually, I did.

Too good for class. From Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fear picture book

So, begrudgingly, I attended the classes.

Yes, a Parenting Class

Taught by a nurse and a nurse practitioner from the HMO, the class introduced 15 parent participants (of which only one was a social service mandate) to the “Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP)” program. The course consisted of strategies found to be effective in raising socially and emotionally healthy children. 

Parent Sharing, the Best Parenting Education

What I particularly liked in the classes was “parent sharing.” This happened when one parent asked about how to deal with an issue, and another would say something like, “Oh, that? I don’t have an issue with that because this is what I have done when that happens….”  I learned some of the best  parenting “strategies” from parent sharing. 

Over time, I came to embrace the class – strategies, parent sharing, and all. The program provided me with information to direct my child’s behavior with less stress and more consistent love and understanding. I prospered. And, excited about the things I learned, I wanted to spread the word. I set out to share them with others. This ignited my journey as a mental health and parenting educator.

A Free guide to parenting adolescents

Other Parenting Programs

Conflict Resolution

Soon after I completed the STEP program, a course on conflict resolution came to town. Conflict resolution  or conflict management interested me. Even though I had been having a challenging time with my toddler, my husband and I had some communication challenges too. Again, the classes delivered. They  provided me with an arsenal of additional skills and strategies to implement whenever I needed them.

EPIC

Then, after this, I became a trainer of the EPIC parenting education program.  EPIC stands for “Every Person Influences Children” developed by Bob Wilson from Buffalo, NY. Frustrated by the high rate of local unintended teen pregnancies, a  concerned parent in our town wanted to do something about the problem. Her pregnancy prevention strategy included providing parents of teens in the community with a parenting program. Along with some other moms, I traveled to Buffalo and received the EPIC training. We then came back home and started facilitating parent groups. 

A Combination of Courses

After training the EPIC program for a while, I thought parents could benefit from combining it with both the STEP and conflict resolution classes. Taking  a little bit from EPIC and STEP and most of the information from the conflict management course, I developed a new parenting education program. 

I then taught the course at the NY State Education Dept. Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) Adult Education Program in Syracuse, NY. I enjoyed teaching the new curriculum. But, again, more importantly, what was best was the parent sharing.

Parent-to-Parent – Head of the Class

As a facilitator of the classes, I both supported and reveled in the participants’ sharing of their parenting ideas, tips, and strategies. A parent may have had an issue in one area but in others they provided well tested ideas or techniques for someone else. This became a constant and welcome cycle within our learning community.

Through my years as an educator, my colleagues and I always agreed that one of the most important teaching strategies is facilitating the sharing of ideas from one student or participant to another. This is particularly true when parents share parenting strategies with each other.

What about you? 

Have you particpated in parenting education? If you did, was it in-person or virtual?   Did you like it?  Why or why not?  Do you have a child rearing tip or strategy that works/worked well for you that you’d like to share?Tell us about it in the Comments.

Looking for resources?

Check out the National Parenting Education Network (NPEN), a national organization that promotes the field of parenting education and encourages information sharing, professional development and networking opportunities for individuals who educate and support parents.

The Best Way to Introduce phearnik!® to Kids

Published on by awsstudiosart7 Comments

Helping Kids Overcome Anxiety

If you’ve been following the phearnik!® Campaign, you know it’s about helping fearful children overcome their fears. You’re intrigued by the little plush. You’ve seen the “How To” steps and know how it works. You’d like to introduce phearnik!® to your child. But you’d like to have some help. You want something like a book that helps kids with anxiety.

A picture of the phearnik! plush, a small rag doll with a lavender body, a navy blue jumpsuit and a wild head of yarn for hair. It has big black eyes and a squiggly mouth. Funny, cute and a little bit ugly. The toy helps reduce child anxiety.

A Picture Book to Help Kids Overcome Fears

A picture of the "Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears" a picture book that helps kids reduce their fear and anxiety.
Click to see a trailer of the book

Phoebe and phearnik!® Fight BIG Fears is just the thing! It’s a children’s book that helps kids with anxiety. In it, a little girl, Phoebe, experiences a lot of irrational fears. In particular, she’s afraid of the dark and going in the water as well as other similar kid fears. These fears keep her from doing things she really wants to do like playing with other kids and having fun.

In the book, Phoebe’s mom tells her,

“It’s okay to have a little fear. It helps you pay attention and keeps you safe. But your fear is too big. It keeps you from doing what you want to do. You need to make your fear small.”

A Toy that Helps with Anxiety

After this, Phoebe takes the reader on an amusing journey. Trying to “make her big fears small,” she finds nothing works. That is until she creates a “phearnik!®,” her “Little Fear.”  The toy helps Phoebe reduce her anxiety. She takes  phearnik!® with her everywhere to remind her to keep her fears small. In this way, Phoebe shows fearful kids it’s okay to have a little fear. Like her mother says, it helps her to pay attention to being safe. And, when you don’t let it get big, you have more fun playing with others.

A picture of a little girl holding her phearnik!

An Easy Way to Help Kids with Anxiety

A picture of an adult most likely a parent reading reading a book to a child. The picture helps illustrate how the "Phoebe and phearnik!® Fight BIG Fears" children’s book provides parents, teachers and counselors with an easy way to help a kid with their fear.

The Phoebe and phearnik!® Fight BIG Fears children’s book provides parents, teachers and counselors with an easy way to help a kid with fear and anxiety. The colorful paper collage illustrations readily engage both boys and girls in Phoebe’s story.  Additionally, the even reading pace clearly tells the story of how a kid solves the problem of making their “big” irrational fears small.

An illustration from the The "Phoebe and phearnik!® Fight BIG Fears"children’s book that helps kids overcome their fears.
Illustrations from “Phoebe and phearnik!® Fight BIG Fears.” See a trailer of the book here.
An illustration from the "Phoebe and phearnik!® Fight BIG Fears"children’s book that helps kids overcome their fears.
A picture of a collage from the aws Studios.art picture book when Phoebe gives a phearnik! to her dad.

A Children’s Book About Mental Health

At the end of Phoebe and phearnik!® Fight BIG Fears, there’s a letter for adult readers. The letter explains  how Phoebe teaches herself a mental health skill. It explains the type of skill Phoebe learns and how it works to reduce a child’s anxiety. Furthermore, the letter says, even though Phoebe’s too young to understand the brain science, she’s learned a way to calm her fear or “keep it small.” This helps her do the things she really wants to do.

A picture showing the letter to readers at the end of Phoebe and phearnik!® Fight BIG Fears providing adults with more information about how the book helps children with anxiety.

One Of The Best Anxiety Books For Kids

Here’s what people are saying about phearnik!® and the book:

Alis Wintle Sefick has freshly written and illustrated a lovely children’s storybook which highlights strategies to combat anxiety in children. This interesting story, told from the voice of a school-age child, offers a tool to address current emotional stresses, which are affecting kids, in higher numbers these days.  I highly recommend this gem of a book. Laura Dolan Jacobsen FNP-BC, Child Development

My now grown daughter could definitely have used a phearnik doll. She was very fearful of new things to the point that it affected her social connections with other kids her age. At the time there was no product like phearnik on  the market. We relied on tiny “worry dolls“ to help her manage her fears. I definitely would have invested in phearnik had  it been available at the time. I think it would’ve been a big help to her then. Rebecca Passanante, Retired Pre-school Educator

5 easy steps to use phearnik! to teach kids to be less scared of everything!

How to Get the Book

The Phoebe and phearnik!® Fight BIG Fears picture book will be available through the phearnik!® Campaign. Sign up and be the first to know when you can get the book!

Join the phearnik!® Campaign!

What about you? What books have you used with kids to help them with their anxiety? Let us know in the Comments.

Give this post a “Like” if you’re inclined. Share this post with others. You never know when you could be helping a parent with a child in need.

phearnik!® is No Stella Al Fresco

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Who is Stella Al Fresco

I made a doll and it is not like Stella Al Fresco.

Sunday morning in the NYTimes, I saw an article about how Megan, The Dutchess of Sussex, promoted a doll on her new show “With Love, Megan.” Commonly known Stella Al Fresco, Megan’s daughter’s doll is sold with “a little baguette and a little cheese.” The dolls’ creators claim the dolls and their accessories help kids mimic adult behavior. Says  Acorn Store owner  Heather Hamilton where the dolls are sold, “Kids really like imitating life, and if this is what they’re seeing on their parents’ patio, then they just pretend play.”

A picture of the doll commonly called Stella Al Fresco. It helps to show the difference between it and the aws Studios.art phearnik! plush and how it is different , has a different purpose and is not like Stella Al Fresco.
The doll commonly known as Stella Al Fresco
A picture of the phearnik! plush, a small rag doll with a lavender body, a navy blue jumpsuit and a wild head of yarn for hair. It has big black eyes and a squiggly mouth. Funny, cute and a little bit scary.
The phearnik! plush

Which makes me think that my little phearnik!® has a long, uphill slog to the market. How does my slightly scary looking doll/plush that is not like Stella Al Fresco compete with the sweet, cute and Cabbage Patch-like doll? And how does my aws Studios.art doll stack up against a doll promoted by Megan?

phearnik!® is no Stella Al Fresco

phearnik!® is 180° from Stella. But that’s okay. phearnik!® is not meant to mimic adult/parent behavior. phearnik!® stands for something else.

A Little Scary Looking

Yes, phearnik!® is not a sweet looking doll like Stella. phearnik!® actually looks a little scary. It’s supposed to look scary. I made phearnik!® to look a little scary because the plush represents a “little fear.”

The idea behind the phearnik!® doll was to make an object that represents fear.  I would take the “little fear” with me to remind me to keep my fears small. When I keep my fears small, they don’t get big and take control of things I want or need to do. More about where I got this idea here (hint: it’s from Elizabeth Gilbert’s book, Big Magic: Creative living beyond fear).

A picture of one of the original versions of the phearnik! plush prototype. A small rag doll with a lavender body, a navy-blue jumpsuit, googlie eyes, a crooked mouth and wild hair kids love.
One of the original versions of the phearnik! plush

Sharing the phearnik!® Idea

Initially, I created phearnik!® to help me with my fear of the blank canvas. Then one day my granddaughter spied the doll on my dresser. She wanted one too. (How couldn’t she? With its quirky face and wild hair, I thought!)

A picture of the cover of the original book about phearnik! titled "Adventures with phearnik!." The book has been revised and is now "Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears"
The original picture book about phearnik!. Now revised as “Phoebe and phearnik! Fight Big Fears”

While making my granddaughter a phearnik!®, I came up with the idea to tell her its story in a book. Hence, I created the picture book Adventures with phearnik!® and gave her both the book and plush as a birthday present.

A picture of a little girl holding her phearnik! The plush helps her overcome her fears so she can join in and have fun.
Guess who with her phearnik!

The phearnik!® Campaign

Since then, I wanted to share the book and the plush with others. phearnik!® definitely helped me. Every day it’s there to remind me not to be fearful of things that are new to me like a blank canvas. More importantly, it helps me with becoming an entrepreneur to promote the phearnik!® idea to others. I believe phearnik!® can help others who, like me, are held back by irrational and debilitating fears.

phearnik!® has helped me do everything I have needed to do to get to this point of launching the phearnik!® Campaign. The campaign seeks to raise funds to support mental health making the plush available to others, both kids and adults, dealing with irrational fears.

A picture of a bookmark that says "Support Mental Health, Join the phearnik! Campaign" with a QR code to sign up.

Yes, phearnik!® is no Stella Al Fresco but That’s Okay

A picture of the doll Stella Al Fresco holding a phearnik! plush symbolizing how the plush reminds kids to keep their fears small.
Stella and phearnik! as friends

phearnik!® is not like Stella Al Fresco. But I like to think that even Stella would like to have a phearnik!® It would remind her to keep her fears small so she can live a more fearless life. Ah, yes, what a vision. Instead  of competing with each other, Stella and phearnik!® could be  friends!

Do you agree? What do you think? Have you ever had a doll like Stella? Or phearnik!®? Tell us about it in the Comments.

Find out more about phearnik!® and get a free “How to Use phearnik!®” pdf here.

Support mental health and sign up for the phearnik!® Campaign

Coming soon: the many faces of phearnik!®

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A picture of the phearnik! the Courage Buddy plush, a small mental health plush with a lavender body, a navy blue jumpsuit and a wild head of yarn for hair. It has big black eyes and a squiggly mouth. Funny, cute and a little bit scary. The plush helped me overcome blank canvas syndrome or overcoming writer's block.

How the phearnik!® Toy Helps Kids Manage Fear

Published on by awsstudiosart10 Comments

*In my last post I announced my campaign to make phearnik!® available to kids, scared of everything, manage their fear. In this post, I aim to explain how it works. And, how, for children, their loved ones, and caregivers, life is better with the little plush.

The phearnik!® Journey

phearnik!®, a plush toy, used to prompt a mindfulness skill, helps children manage fear

Even before the pandemic, mental health issues were on the rise for children. Unfortunately, the pandemic increased the number of kids dealing with overwhelming fear and anxiety. This often points to a lack of mental health skills.

“So,” you ask, “how does a toy help kids build a skill to make them less scared of everything?” I’ll tell you!

What is this phearnik!® you are talking about?!

The phearnik!® [pronounced: fear-nick] toy or “plush” is a prompt. phearnik!® means “Little Fear” and prompts kids to remember to keep their fears “small.” Importantly, having a “little fear” when faced with non-life-threatening anxieties helps keep kids safe. A little fear helps us to pay attention. Whereas, too much or letting it “get “big” stops kids from doing what they want or need to do. This could be things like joining in and having fun with other kids.

A Prompt to Reduce Fear and Anxiety

Used in many disciplines including education, therapy, and Applied Behavioral Analysis, a prompt is a tool or aid. It works to achieve a desired behavioral response. Prompts can be verbal, gestural, physical, or visual. Also, pictures, videos, or toys such as dolls and plush are types of visual prompts.

A picture of a bulletin board with reminder notes pinned to it.
Yes, A toy as A Prompt!
The image shows a little girl who used to be scared of everything is holding her phearnik! plush. She is smiling and looks like she likes her quirky looking toy.
A little girl holding her phearnik!®

The small phearnik!® or “Little Fear” prompts children dealing with fear and anxiety to keep their fears small. They do this by calming themselves. First they take a breath, let it out, and take the first small “step” of trying a new experience. These can be things like putting a toe into the “scary” water. As well as, stepping just inside the doorway of the dark bedroom holding their stuffie, of course.

5 easy steps to use phearnik! to teach kids to be less scared of everything!

By providing a clear signal or reminder about what is expected, prompts guide the teaching of concepts or skill. This helps to increase the chances of a desired behavior. 

Some examples of Prompts you might recognize…

Teachers might use verbal prompts to guide students through a challenging math problem. Or they may use visual prompts like pictures to help with learning vocabulary. Therapists use prompts to assist clients with many activities. These include visual prompts to guide them through a sequence of steps in a task. And, in the research-based practice, Applied Behavioral Analysis, prompts help to improve problematic behavior.

Manage Fear and Anxiety with Skills

wait! this isn’t life or death!

Many do not experience overwhelming fear in the face of non-life-threatening situations. They are skilled in  transferring these thoughts.

Fearful thoughts begin in the primal limbic area of the brain. Those with the skill transfer these thoughts to the prefrontal cortex. This is where our modern, logical, and practical responses reside.

It’s as though they are saying, “Wait! My brain thinks this is a life-or-death situation but it’s not. I’m safe to give this a try.”  

Mental health made simple! A free skills checklist
Mindfulness with phearnik!®

phearnik!® prompts the practice of switching fearful thoughts from its initial primal reaction to modern and logical calm responses. This skill strengthens mental health. It is an intrapersonal communication skill, a type of mindfulness.

How to Use the phearnik!® Prompt

The phearnik!® prompt is easy to use
Here’s how:
  • Introduce phearnik!® to the child. Tell them its name, how it’s pronounced [fear-nik] and what the name means – “Little Fear.”
  • In addition, tell them to take the plush with them. It’s small to fit in a backpack or pocket. Wherever they are, when faced with a situation they’re afraid of, phearnik!® is there. Reminding them that a “little fear” is okay. It helps to keep them safe and aware.
  • Let the child know too much or letting their fear get “big” makes them freeze. This means they can’t do things they would like or need to do.
  • phearnik!® wants them to first slowly take a breath in and let it out. It’s okay to do this a few times.
  • Next phearnik!®, not only wants them to think about keeping their fear small but…
This is an image of the phearnik! plush. The plush is a prompt used to build a mindfulness skill to help kids scared of everything gain social and emotional health.
phearnik!®
  • …the plush wants them to think about not letting it get big.
  • phearnik!® reminds them they are safe to take the first step on giving a new experience a try.
  • Tell them phearnik!® is helping them learn an important skill to keep them strong and healthy.
5 Easy Steps to use phearnik! to teach kids to be less scared of everything!

From Fearful to Confident

get healthy with social and emotional skills
This image shows a little girl, who used to be scared of everything, enjoying swimming in the water with her dragon floatie. She used the phearnik! plush to remind her to keep her fear small and not let it get big.
phearnik! reminded Phoebe to practice her mindfulness skill to keep her fear of the water “small.” She had fun swimming with the other kids!

The more the toy is used, the more a child, scared of everything, practices the thinking skill. This skill builds their social and emotional health and becomes less fearful. As with all prompts, the more it’s used the less it’s needed.  The more a child takes the plush with them, the more they will remember to practice the skill. This includes taking a breath, letting it out, and calming themselves toward taking positive action with new experiences. Moreover, this can be done with or without the plush at their side.

Said one grandmother of a phearnik!® owner,

“After a while, all we had to do when she was afraid of doing something that didn’t warrant a lot of fear, like getting in the water, was to tell her to “remember” phearnik!®. And she got it! You could see her thinking about it. And, with a smile, she jumped in the pool with the rest of us!”

Support Kids’ Mental Health

The phearnik!® plush is an easy and fun way to help kids who need it. Building a social and emotional skill, the toy can be life changing.

Make skill building fun! Join the phearnik!® Campaign!

By joining the campaign, you will get:

  • Get more information about phearnik!®  like
  • How the quirky plush came to be
  • Receive campaign updates (like how it will be made available),
  • Get more info mental health skill building and
  • Support the larger mission of boosting children’s mental health!
Join the “phearnik!®” Campaign

Do you have a prompt you use to help you build a skill? Is there anything you don’t understand or are confused about with the phearnik!® plush? Let me know in the Comments or email me: alis@awsstudios.art

If you think someone you know should know about phearnik!®, feel free to share this post.

Next post: The best way to introduce kids to phearnik!® what it is and how it works!

Support Kids’ Mental Health with phearnik!®

Published on by awsstudiosart8 Comments

“My kid is scared of everything”

Parenting fearful kids is exhausting. Furthermore, it’s even more exasperating than just “plain old parenting” which is exhausting enough!  The fears I’m talking about are the non-life-threatening kind and are often about things other children have no issues with.  Importantly, you wonder, why your child is so anxious and scared of everything?

A picture of a little girl in bed in the dark looking very frightened.
From the picture book “Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears”

Longing for Curiosity and Courage

Indeed, you would love for your child, lest I say, “To be like other kids.” I’m talking about the ones who don’t seem to be scared of everything. Life would be easier and less stressful. Moreover, it would be great if your fearful child could approach new experiences with curiosity and courage.

Developing Skills

A close up of two kids having fun playing in the surf from an illustration from the picture book.
From the picture book “Phoebe and phearnik! Fight BIG Fears”

Clearly, all kids are different and deal with unfamiliar activities in various ways. This often depends on their skills. We develop physical and mental health over time, frequently without noticing we’re developing skills.  We more easily think about what’s needed for our children’s physical health. The ethereal skills of mental health are harder to pinpoint. In addition, you may ask, what exactly are those skills?

Assessing Skills

To help parents, caregivers, teachers and others assess a child’s mental health, I have put together an introductory skill checklist. The list begins with the basic skills of social and emotional health. Also, the list includes life skills and others for specific emotional needs.

Mental health made simple – A free skills checklist

Importantly, basic mental health begins with communication skills, both interpersonal and intrapersonal. Helping kids to be less ‘scared of everything’ begins with building their  intrapersonal communication skills.

Less Scared of Everything with phearnik!®

Meet phearnik!® –  a toy that helps kids build an essential intrapersonal communication skill!

Who  wouldn’t want a toy that relieves their kid’s fears and be less scared of everything? Well…  phearnik!® is that toy! When faced with non-life-threatening fears, the small quirky plush prompts children to practice mindfulness, an intrapersonal communication skill.

phearnik!® (pronounced: fear-nik) means “Little Fear.” It helps kids to mindfully keep their fears “small” and not let them get “big.” Having a little fear helps keep kids safe. But too much or letting it get “big” stops them from doing what they want or need to do.

“Too little fear and you don’t pay enough attention; too much and you freeze.”

Anthony Doerr, Cloud Cuckoo Land

Support Kids’ Mental Health

This post marks the beginning of my phearnik!® campaign. My goal is to make the cute little plush available to any kid who needs it. I want to bring its subtle powers to  help these kids be less scared of everything.

More about phearnik! here

Over the next few months, I will be talking about phearnik!®:

  • what it is;
  • what it does,
  • how it helps boost mental health and
  • how I am trying to bring it to kids who need it.

Then in October, I plan to launch my 30-day fund-raising campaign to help manufacture, package and ship phearnik!® and its accompanying picture book to kids who need it.

A picture of the phearnik! plush prototype. A small rag doll with a lavender body, a navy-blue jumpsuit, googlie eyes, a crooked mouth and wild hair kids love.
phearnik! prototype

Help Boost Children’s Mental Health –

Join the “phearnik!®” Campaign
  • Get more information about how phearnik!®  works,
    • Find out how the quirky little plush came to be,
      • Get campaign updates (like how phearnik!® will be made available),
          • Get more mental health skill building info and
            • Support the larger mission of boosting children’s mental health skill building!
    Sign up here – Boost Kids Mental Health Skills Today!

    Next blog post – details about how phearnik!® works. Sign up to stay tuned!

    How to Achieve Your Resolution

    Published on by awsstudiosart2 Comments

    A New Way to Achieve Your Resolution

    It’s resolution time once again. This year, I was intrigued by the NY Times article, “For a Happier New Year, Focus on Your Loved Ones.” In it, writer Holly Burns, posits a new way to make and  achieve resolutions.   Instead of self-focused goals, Burns suggests making other-serving resolutions – goals with or about others. She then supports this idea with research. The study shows that when we take the focus off the “self,” we can positively impact both ourselves and others.

    Struggling with Next Steps

    If you’re anything like me, you struggle with achieving your goals. Also like me, with many steps and so much to do,  it feels overwhelming.

    I have been struggling with my next steps with my aws Studios. My plan is to put most of my efforts into launching my therapy doll into the toy and novelty market. My deadline is this year. It’s a lot to do in a short amount of time. My goal objectives include:

    • Setting up a crowdfunding campaign
    • Getting quotes and samples of the toy and its companion book
    • Creating an eBook
    • Getting a doll and book package designed and
    • Promoting my “product” with this blog and social media posts.

    From Self-Focused to Other-Serving

    I’m guessing that, like me, you make self-focused resolutions. These goals center on becoming a better person, have a better body, etc. Often, we don’t get too far with these promises. But I am digging this idea. I like the idea of taking the focus off us. And, making resolutions that impact both ourselves and others.

     Perfect Timing

    Because of my feelings of overwhelm, I have been looking for a “sign” to keep me going. The idea of making resolutions for others comes at a perfect time for me. we are more apt to keep working on our goals knowing it will affect others. It is the sign I have been looking for.

    What Is Your Other-Serving Resolution?

    To help you think of a resolution that benefits someone else, here is mine as an example:

    In 2025, I resolve to launch my phearnik!® crowdfunding campaign. phearnik!®, or “little fear,” is a small rag doll. It helps fearful kids and adults manage their fears. Once, managed, they can  join in and have fun (more about this here and here).

    My Other-Serving Resolution Can Help You Make Yours

    If you are looking to resolve feelings of fear and anxiety or help others with theirs, phearnik!® can help. The quirky plush teaches fearful kids and adults to be more mindful of their reactions to fear. It prompts its user to make the important brain switch from primitive reaction to a contemporary, non-life-threatening response.

    Let’s Achieve our Resolutions Together

    Fear of the blank canvas!

    In the Comments below, share  your resolution (self-focused or other-serving, it doesn’t matter). I’ll support you in your quest to achieve your resolution.

    And if you sign up to this blog, you’ll be supporting me. I’ll be updating my resolution – all about helping fearful kids and adults learn an important mental health skill.

    Happy New Year!

    Click to see how I do with my resolution!

    New Online Art Gallery featuring Abstract Collage

    Published on by awsstudiosart1 Comment

    Art and Mental Health

    Hopefully, my readers know I write about both my art and mental health resources. If you are a new reader, well, there you have it – here at the “…Studios” you will get a little of both of my Gemini sides! With today’s post about my new online art gallery.

    This image shows an aws Studios.art watercolor in their new online gallery of a colorful back yard in the fall looking towards a window of a house with a wooden cardinal decoration in the window. The work is titled, "Wooden Cardinal."
    “Wooden Cardinal” watercolor

    Helping Readers Navigate

    I’ve tried to clarify about doing both art and mental health in my blogs over the past year. Still, I figured, subscribers and guests need an easier way to view my art.

    This image shows a collage in the new online gallery of works by Alis Wintle Sefick of aws Studios.art. The collage is an abstract beach scene with beach chairs by the surf, condos in the background, multi-colored shells in the foreground, and postcards blowing around in the breeze. The work is titled, Postcards from the Beach.
    “Postcards from the Beach” collage

    As a result, I am unveiling my new online art gallery. The gallery is divided into six curated collections:

    While I currently work with recycled fabric and paper collage, each collection contains art I created using other media too. These include watercolor, acrylic, and mixed media.

    Art and Mental Health

    Viewing art is good for our mental health. Recently, I did this while visiting my sister in Boston. She treated my other sister and me to a day at the Museum of Fine Arts. Studies show that looking at art can can improve our mental health. This includes stress relief, improving mood, enhancing creativity, give a sense of relief, and improve social connections. Our “sisters trip” to the museum definitely improved our connections. We hadn’t done anything together with just “the sisters” since we were kids! Not only were we treated to the art, but we learned more about each other in the process.

    A picture of Alis of aws Studios.art with her sisters, Sue and Carol, on the subway to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
    Sue, Alis, and Carol

    Which is Your Favorite?

    I hope you enjoy a look around my gallery. In “Comments,” I’d love to hear which is your favorite collection or art work. Or tell about your experience with art and mental health.

    If you are interested in any of the art, email me at alis@awsstudios.art

    As always, enjoy and thanks for reading –

    Grand Opening! The New aws Studios Art Shop

    Published on by awsstudiosartLeave a comment

    “Art and health. No. Brainer.”

    Wendy MacNaughton, Illustrator and Creator of the popular kids show “Draw Together”

    aws Studios Art Shop

    While at the 2024 Licensing Expo in Las Vegas last month to pitch my mental health skill-building toy, I also met with artShine, a home decor licensee. It was one of the best meetings I had that week and artShine motivated me to start my licensing journey by selling my art online. I have been sharing my mental health curricula online, but this was the first time I thought about doing the same with my art in my new aws Studios Art Shop.

    Drum roll…

    This week is the Grand Opening of my aws Studios Art Shop on Etsy! Offering prints and original art products, the Studios’ shop is currently showcasing originals of “The Whimsicals.” These simple blank cards delight with fun and kooky characters using illustration drawn with pencil and painted with watercolor. Both kids and adults will relate to “The Whimsicals” simple, yet relatable all-occasion cards.

    Slow but Sure

    My plan is to roll out inventory slowly, mainly as it becomes available. In the days and weeks ahead, I will be adding more of my illustrated cards. This fall, I will launch an exciting line of products specially made for the season. Think “apples.” Hint, hint! I’m excited to show you!

    Check it Out and Let Me Know What You Think

    I hope you check out my new aws Studios Art Shop. While there, treat yourself or your friends to one (or more) of “The Whimsicals.” Everyone deserves a little fun and whimsy. Don’t delay, do it today!

    After taking a look around – at my current little shop – let me know what you think in the Comments below. Thanks for reading!