Calm-Down Corners
Strong emotions can be hard to process let alone deal with. Caregivers can quickly become overwhelmed and kids don’t have the cognitive capacity to express themselves in a calm manner.
See Ten Steps to Calm Your Child’s Strong Emotions for more info.
While some of these intense moments will require you to take a more direct approach in calming your child down, other times, it will be appropriate to encourage your child to self-regulate. Calm-down corners are a wonderful way to nurture this skill.
Calm-down corners are different from time-outs. Time-outs are sometimes implemented when a child persists in an undesired or destructive behavior after a warning that has been given or when the child has defiantly violated an understood family boundary. In that case, the child can be removed and put into a short time-out (age appropriate) to indicate a need for a consequence with a quick follow up request for a reset in behavior. Time-outs should be a separate place than the calm-down corner.
Calm-down corners are intended for de-escalating strong emotions but no violations have occurred. The goal is to teach children that they can use the space voluntarily and can work to regulate their own emotions.
Calm-down corners can also help:
Normalize strong emotions
Encourage emotional intelligence (EQ)
Create positive coping skills
Provide structure, safety, and security to the child.
Here are some ideas to create your own
Calm-Down Corner
Disclaimer: These products are only suggestions. Please check reviews before purchasing a product that you may not be happy with. Create a more budget-friendly corner by grabbing items from around your home. *As an affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Secure space
Create a safe, cozy space for your child to go to.
Teepees could also be a fun alternative.
Cozy corner
Opt out the chair for a spot on the floor, making it cozy with one of these.
timer
Include a timer so your child can decide how much time to commit to in the calm-down space. See this visual analog timer as another option.
fidget tool
A small sequin pillow like this could help focus and calm your child. See more below.
Eq books
Include a few books about feelings that nurture emotional intelligence. See our EQ booklist for kids here.
Calm-down Ideas
Use cards like these that include 36 color-illustrated soothing strategies (English and Spanish). Tailor them by selecting a few options that would best fit your family.
*See also these Temper Tamers in a jar.
Crayola pencil crayons
Chalk Full of Design Chalkboards
Cozy blankets
A soft weighted blanket can have a calming effect. Any cozy blanket can help a child feel more secure.
Pillow or Stuffy
Have a cozy pillow, stuffed animal, or baby for your child to cuddle or hold.
CALM Pennant by Eventide Pennant Co. Define your space with this custom, handmade sign.
Deep breathing
Encourage your kids to physiologically calm their bodies by breathing deeply.
Music
Hook these up to soothing music or keep external sounds more muffled. Try these noise cancelling ones.
Character matters cards
Prompt your child to choose a character attribute he or she could focus on for the rest of that day using these cards by September & Co.
Manipulatives
Include a few manipulative toys to facilitate refocusing the brain into a more calm, relaxed state.
Click on the pictures above to learn more.
Activities
Wonder Stix chalk crayons
Watercolor non-toxic paints
organization
Use a basket or container to hold and organize calming tools.
Feelings Check-in
Normalize feelings by having your child name them (by Jim Borgman). View more feeling expression TOYS here.
Soothing Songs
Find music that will calm your child and remind them about God’s never-ending love for them (not matter what mood they’re in). This is our current favorite C.D by Matt & Josie Minikus. We also find Fountainview Music to be very calming.
gratitude journals
What better way to turn around a person’s mood than to express gratitude! We also love these PROMPTLY Gratitude JOURNALS for kids.
Weathering My Emotions Journal
This journal is such an excellent resource for kids to write, draw, and express their feelings in a healthy way. By Promptly Journals
*See more EQ workbooks here to specifically help with topics like: anger, anxiety, worry, negativity, and so much more.
Coloring book