Big emotions can be a lot to handle. It is our job to help kids learn how to recognize these emotions as well as develop coping strategies to deal with them. One of the strategies that has worked best for Little Bookworm has been creating a Calm Down Corner. So we wanted to share how to set up a calm down corner in your own home.

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Find a Space

First, you need to carve out a space in your home to become your Calm Down Corner. You want to choose a space that is quiet and secluded, where kids can “hide away” when they need alone time. My daughter’s first quiet space was behind a chair in our living room. Recently, we created an area in her closet with a pillow bed, fairy lights, and some of her favorite stuffed animals. Wherever you decide to put your Calm Down Corner, you want to make sure it is a space that your kids can make their own.

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Items to Add

Once you decide on a comfortable space, you want to fill it with items that will help kids calm themselves down from big emotions. Some of the items that Little Bookworm has found to be most helpful are activities that force her to focus. I placed a basket in her Calm Down Corner and filled it with calming items and games. She has a calming sensory bottle that she can shake and focus on as the glitter settles back down to the bottom. She also has a magnetic pen game where she has to sort the little colored balls into the right groups. I added a balance game from the Target Dollar Spot as well.

Calm Down Kit

To remind her how to calm her big emotions, I created this printable Calm Down Kit. The items in the kit are either in her basket or covering the walls of her Calm Down corner. These are visual reminders for how she can regulate her breathing, make a plan for her next steps, or feel more powerful. She especially likes using the printed pages with the handprints on them, to ground her, focus her breathing and think about her emotions.

Books to Add

We have gathered a collection of books about emotions over the years, and I rotate these into her Calm Down Corner. Rereading them on her own (or looking at the pictures before she could read) also help her to tackle her big emotions. These are some of our favorite books about emotions:

Overall, creating a Calm Down Corner has been a huge help for Little Bookworm, and for me. She now feels comfortable heading to the corner when she feels a tantrum coming on, or if she feels overwhelmed. It has definitely cut down on meltdowns and arguments, and it has helped her to regulate the big emotions. (I’m actually a little jealous and would love to have my own!). I highly recommend setting up your own Calm Down for kids in your home, as well as creating strategies for your kids to utilize in the difficult moments. I hope our ideas are helpful to your family!

Have you set up a Calm Down Corner for your kids? What do you have in yours?

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