💜 When Fireworks Feel Too Loud: Larry the Scared Monster

Hey grown-ups 💛

Not every monster loves fireworks.

In fact, for some of us (big and small), Bonfire Night can feel like a sensory rollercoaster — beautiful, but a bit too much.

The bangs, flashes, and smoky smells can send our nervous systems into full-on “uh oh” mode. If you’ve got a little one who hides behind the sofa, covers their ears, or asks when it’ll all be over — you’re not alone.

I wrote this little rhyme about Larry the Scared Monster, who lives in a cosy shipwreck by the sea. Larry loves the stars and the sparkle on the water, but when fireworks fill the sky, his tummy gets wobbly and his hands squeeze tight. He’s learning that feeling scared doesn’t make him any less brave — it just means he needs to do things a bit differently to feel safe.

So, grab a blanket, snuggle in, and meet Larry…

💜 When Larry was scared of Fireworks

Larry the scared monster lived by the sea,

In a tumbled-down shipwreck as snug as could be.

He loved how the stars would sparkle at night,

And the moon made the waves all silvery bright.

But when fireworks fizzed and popped in the sky,

Poor Larry would shiver and cover his eyes.

The bangs felt too big, the lights far too loud,

The whole island buzzed like a noisy crowd.

His tummy felt wobbly, his hands squeezed tight,

He wished he could hide till the end of the night.

He tried counting stars and humming a song,

But the whizzes and cracks still felt too strong.

Then Larry remembered — it’s okay to feel scared,

And to look after himself showed how much he cared.

He grabbed his ear defenders, snuggled in bed,

And peeked through the window from under his head.

The colours still shimmered, the stars still shone bright,

But Larry felt safe, and that made it right.

Now each year he smiles when the fireworks bloom,

From his cosy shipwreck, his twinkly room.

He still feels the rumbles deep under the sea,

But knows he’s okay — he’s just being Larry. 💜

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🌈 Why this story matters

Fireworks can be magical — but for some children (and plenty of adults too), they’re also unpredictable, loud, and overwhelming.

Larry’s story helps start gentle conversations about safety, sensory overload, and self-regulation. It’s a reminder that “brave” doesn’t always mean joining in; sometimes it means knowing what you need to feel calm.

By reading stories like Larry’s together, we teach our children to:

💛 recognise when their bodies feel overwhelmed

💛 understand that needing space is normal

💛 and discover ways to feel safe and comfortable again

When we normalise those feelings, we help our kids build emotional language and self-awareness — two of the biggest building blocks of resilience.

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💫 Try this together

Here are some ideas to help your little monsters feel calmer this Firework Night:

🧠 Create a “Firework Plan” together

Talk about what might help if the noise feels too big — ear defenders, headphones, snuggly dens, or even a fun distraction like watching a film.

🎆 Turn it into play

Make paper fireworks with crayons or glitter glue! Talk about the colours and shapes they love — it turns the fear into creativity.

🐉 Model your own calm

When you say, “It’s loud, but we’re safe,” you’re showing their brain how to stay grounded. Co-regulation magic!

💌 Reflect afterwards

Chat about what helped. You might be surprised how much your child learns from recognising their own brave choices.

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✨ Larry reminds us that brave doesn’t always mean loud. Sometimes it means wrapping up warm, finding your safe space, and letting the world sparkle from afar.

If this story resonated, you can find more of our emotion monsters over at Worley’s World. Each one helps families explore feelings in fun, safe, monster-sized ways.

💬 I’d love to know — how does your family handle fireworks night? Do you have your own “Larry-style” cosy traditions? Pop a comment below or share your safe-space setups with us on social media! 🌈

#WorleysWorld #BigFeelings #SensorySafe #FireworkNight #FamilyConnection #Neurodiversity #ItsOkayToBeYou #BraveBrains