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Calm Down Toolkit For Kids

March 25, 2018 By Heather Greutman 58 Comments

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Affiliate and Referral links are used below to promote products I love and recommend. I receive a commission on any purchases made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details.

All children can benefit from calm down strategies, whether they have sensory processing challenges or not. Today I have teamed up with Fun and Function to share this great calm down toolkit for kids. You can use it in your home, classroom, or clinic/school-based practice. It's a great way to encourage independence in self-regulation for kids of all ages, with a little training. I have a free download for you today with some printables for setting up.

There is also a great giveaway from Fun and Function below (with two prize options!), so be sure to scroll to the bottom to enter the giveaway.

Calm down toolkit for kids. Includes my calm down station toolkit printable.

This post is sponsored by Fun and Function. I received monetary compensation as well as free products in order to write this post. The giveaway below is also sponsored by Fun and Function. 

Teaching Self-Regulation Techniques

In order for calm down toolkits or any sensory strategy to work successfully, you need to teach children how to use them, BEFORE they are melting down.

There are many different emotions, but we all come hardwired with 6 main emotions. These are:

  • Happiness
  • Sadness
  • Fear
  • Anger
  • Surprise
  • Disgust

Teaching all children about emotions and how to react to emotions can benefit the entire classroom, home, or clinic/school-based setting. Children need to be able to recognize these emotions, how they feel, and the how different responses can affect them or those around them. Calm down strategies will not work as effectively unless a child understands WHAT they are feeling, WHY they are feeling the way they do, and then HOW to respond.

As an adult, I have to challenge myself to practice my own calm-down strategies in order to show my kids how to react appropriately. Of course, we all make mistakes and don't always respond the appropriate way. But by practicing these responses before we need them, it helps our brain to access these responses when we need them.

If you have a child or work with a child with sensory processing challenges, they often have emotional reactions to sensory input. These reactions can affect how they function in the home or classroom, which affects their ability to problem solve and learn. Preparing them with calm down strategies can be extremely helpful to them to function in the different environments.

Setting Up a Calm Down Toolkit

When you are setting up a calm down toolkit, it's important to provide things that will hit all 8 senses. Lots of gross motor movements to provide proprioception, vestibular, and also tactile input are the first 3 senses to focus on. Typically, these 3 senses are the basis of sensory processing challenges, so it is important to address these 3 senses first. Then you can pull in visual, auditory, taste, and smell to help with calming.

I was really excited when Fun and Function asked me to use some of their products to create this calm down toolkit. I wanted to choose items that would hit multiple sensory systems that you could use with multiple kids. Fun and Function also has a lot of other amazing products you can look through to add to your toolkits. And of course, you can always use your own DIY options.

Remeber to scroll down to the bottom of this post where I have a free download to get you started with your calm down toolkit and there is also a giveaway from Fun and Function!

Calm down toolkit for kids. Includes my calm down station toolkit printable.

Your toolkit can be put into a basket or plastic bin with a lid that child has access to in your home or classroom. It's important that it is accessible without the child needing your input to encourage self-regulation and independence with calming strategies.

I included the following items in my calm down toolkit:

  • I Am Feeling Chart (included in the free download below)
  • This Is How I Breathe (included in the free download below)
  • Visual Cards for Calming from Fun and Function (for proprioception and vestibular input)
  • Discovery Putty – Intergalactic Odessey (for tactile input)
  • Happy Face Fidget Necklace from Fun and Function (for gustatory/taste input)
  • Glittery Calm Down Bottle (for visual input – tutorial here)

 

Happy Face Fidget NecklaceHappy Face Fidget NecklaceVisual Cards for CalmingVisual Cards for CalmingDiscovery Putty - Intergalactic OdesseyDiscovery Putty – Intergalactic Odessey

And I wanted to suggest some other ideas you could include, these can be found on the Fun and Function as well.

  • Bean Bag Chair (for proprioceptive and tactile input)
  • Headphones (noise canceling or playing soft music for auditory input)
  • Visual Timer (for visual input)

 

Mushy Smushy Bean Bag ChairMushy Smushy Bean Bag ChairVisual TimerVisual TimerNoise Reduction HeadphonesNoise Reduction Headphones

Get Your Free Calm Down Toolkit Printable Packet

Calm down toolkit for kids. Includes my calm down station toolkit printable.

This printable packet will get you started with setting up your own calm down toolkit for your regulation station or sensory calm down station.

To get the free download, enter your email address below and click the green “download now” button. Your packet will automatically start to download to your computer. Also be on the lookout for an email from me later on with more resources for you. You'll also get my weekly email newsletter filled with more tips and activity suggestions, just like this one.

I suggest printing this packet onto card stock and you can also laminate the pages so they hold up better.

GET YOUR FREE "MY CALM DOWN STATION" TOOLKIT DOWNLOAD
DOWNLOAD NOW

Fun and Function Giveaway!!

I'm so thankful to Fun and Function for sponsoring this post and giveaway today. You have the opportunity to win either the Happy Face Fidget Necklaces, Discovery Putty, and the Visual Cards for Calming OR a $50 gift card to Fun and Function so you can pick out your own calm down toolkit tools. There is one winner for this giveaway and they will be given a choice between the two prizes.

To enter, follow the prompts below in the Rafflecopter form. Please read through all the terms and conditions before entering. This giveaway will be open until Monday, April 2nd at 11:59 pm eastern time. I will be contacting the winner via email within 5 days of the end of the giveaway and the winner's name will also be shown on the Rafflecopter form below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more tips and resources like this one, follow the links below.

 

Follow Heather | Growing Hands-On Kids's board Emotional Regulation Resources on Pinterest.
You May Also Like:
10 hands-on and engaging ways to teach kids about their emotions.

  • 10 Ways to Teach Kids About Their Emotions
  • DIY Clothespin Emotions Chart
  • What Are Executive Functioning Skills?
  • Ideas for Dealing with Sensitivities and Sensory Processing Disorder

What is sensory processing? A FREE e-mail series to explain everything sensory!

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Filed Under: Occupational Therapy Tips Tagged With: Child Behaviors, Child Development, Everyday Life Skills, For Parents, For Teachers, For Therapists, Sensory, SPD

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Disclaimer: Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. The advice in these tips is not to replace medical advice from a physician or your pediatrician. Please consult their advice if you suspect any medical or developmental issues with your child. These tips do not replace the relationship between therapist and client in a one on one treatment session with a individualized treatment plan based on their professional evaluation. 
All activities are designed for complete adult supervision. Please use your own judgement with your child and do not provide objects that could pose a choking hazard to young children. Never leave a child unattended during these activities. Please be aware of and follow all age recommendations on all products used in these activities. Growing Hands-On Kids is not liable for any injury when replicating any of the activities found on this blog.

Comments

  1. Lisa Theriot says

    March 25, 2018 at 5:41 pm

    I would love the visual timers or calming cards, or the happy face fidget necklace! I LOVE Fun and Function!

    Reply
    • Caroline Jarvis says

      March 25, 2018 at 7:35 pm

      I would love Heavy Herbet!

      Reply
    • Laura says

      March 25, 2018 at 8:22 pm

      I am excited to follow your guidance to set up a calm down area in my classroom. I am limited on space, but feel confident that starting small will offer big rewards. Starting somewhere is better than not trying!

      Reply
    • jen says

      March 26, 2018 at 12:09 pm

      I would love to have the calming cards!

      Reply
    • Debbie says

      March 29, 2018 at 7:01 am

      I would buy the discovery putty or the bean bag chair.

      Reply
  2. Sarah says

    March 25, 2018 at 7:10 pm

    I would get the calming cards!

    Reply
  3. Christin George says

    March 25, 2018 at 7:19 pm

    If I won the gift card for Fun and Function I would order Discovery Putty. The kids I work with absolutely love it!

    Reply
  4. Naomi Gansky says

    March 25, 2018 at 7:19 pm

    Thank you so much for your post. I can’t wait to make my own calm down tool kits for my TK students.

    Reply
  5. Rachel says

    March 25, 2018 at 7:29 pm

    This is such an amazing resource. I can’t wait to incorporate it in my class. These strategies are so needed.

    Reply
  6. Sarah says

    March 25, 2018 at 7:37 pm

    I would love the visual timers for my kiddies with anxiety and difficulties with transitions!

    Or the happy face fidgets for my kiddos with busy hands/mouths!!!

    Reply
  7. Beth says

    March 25, 2018 at 7:38 pm

    New to the blog but so far I’ve enjoyed the information that has been shared. I plan to put the free download of pictures for breathing to use right away! If I were a lucky winner, my first choice would be the discovery putty but the necklaces are a close second, because of the needs of my students this year.

    Reply
  8. Brenda says

    March 25, 2018 at 7:48 pm

    I would love to have the Mushy Smushy Bean Bag chair. Thanks.

    Reply
  9. Marlene Graham says

    March 25, 2018 at 7:49 pm

    I would love the putty and happy face fidget as my kiddos both go through those items quickly. I love fun and function and can think of a LOT of things to spend money on there my wish list is long 🙂

    Reply
  10. Jeanette Runnings says

    March 25, 2018 at 8:23 pm

    Thanks for the Calm Down station handouts and for sharing such a wonderful give away!

    Reply
  11. Alyssa Lemmon says

    March 25, 2018 at 8:38 pm

    I would love the $50 Fun and Function gift card as we ready use a different brand of calming cards, but saw so many other great items on the website!

    Reply
  12. Katie Pascoe says

    March 25, 2018 at 8:44 pm

    Thank you for this post, I’ve been looking for the happy face fidget necklaces, and would love to win one for my son! I’ll be checking out fun and function for sure!

    Reply
  13. Deborah Lindbergh says

    March 25, 2018 at 9:54 pm

    I just recently discovered Fun and Function and ordered several things. I like the putty.

    Reply
  14. Linda Scharnhorst says

    March 25, 2018 at 10:13 pm

    I would like the discovery putty and calming cards

    Reply
  15. shea thompson says

    March 25, 2018 at 10:14 pm

    I would love the bean bag chair. I think every classroom needs bean bag chairs.

    Reply
  16. Liza Marie Norton says

    March 25, 2018 at 10:39 pm

    I would love the discovery putty!

    Reply
  17. beth Marshall says

    March 25, 2018 at 11:00 pm

    love this idea of a calming kit!!

    Reply
  18. Lata says

    March 25, 2018 at 11:52 pm

    I would like the visual timer.

    Reply
  19. Coral says

    March 26, 2018 at 1:48 am

    I would buy the happy faces fidget necklaces, possibly the visual cards followed buy the visual clock in that order

    Reply
  20. Kathy Pender says

    March 26, 2018 at 2:08 am

    I think I would choose either the fidget necklaces or the visual timers. Thank you!

    Reply
  21. Tara says

    March 26, 2018 at 5:30 am

    Thank you so much for sharing this resource. Teaching our children to achieve ‘calm’ to achieve their best learning is so important. I would have on my wish list the visual cues to calming cards.

    Reply
  22. maggiespratt says

    March 26, 2018 at 9:07 am

    visual timer and the calming cards. thanks for putting this together

    Reply
  23. Shannon says

    March 26, 2018 at 9:33 am

    I would love the calm down visual cards!

    Reply
  24. Tami Qualls says

    March 26, 2018 at 9:40 am

    My son loves the bean bag at speech therapy. I’m sure he’d love one at home, as well.

    Reply
  25. Amy A says

    March 26, 2018 at 9:43 am

    If I won the gift card I would love to get the visuals for calming and/or the chew necklaces! I have a ton of kids that would benefit from both!

    Reply
  26. Alison Thorsted says

    March 26, 2018 at 10:03 am

    I would probably choose the Discovery Putty, my little one seems to enjoy it even though he dislikes so many sensory products.

    Reply
  27. Dana Sciullo says

    March 26, 2018 at 10:17 am

    Great ideas! As an occupational therapist, I love that you incorporate all of the senses.

    Reply
  28. Maribel Moon says

    March 26, 2018 at 4:26 pm

    Thank you for this!

    Reply
  29. Katie Price says

    March 26, 2018 at 4:52 pm

    I would most likely put the 50 towards a bubble tube or the floor tiles as I am helping design a new sensory space for our therapy department at Lauren’s Institute in Arizona.

    Reply
  30. Elena says

    March 26, 2018 at 6:46 pm

    I would get the calm down kit to help teach my little boy about feeling and how to calm down

    Reply
  31. Lindsey says

    March 26, 2018 at 8:20 pm

    I would love to use the Sensory Calming Cards with my students. They look well made, visually appealing, and practical to use!

    Reply
  32. Michelle says

    March 26, 2018 at 10:30 pm

    I would choose the visual calming cards and the discovery putty!! I love your blog, it’s so helpful for me as a school-based OT!

    Reply
  33. Denise says

    March 27, 2018 at 1:36 am

    I’m a school OT. I go through so many chewie necklaces and putty. Both are needed.

    Reply
  34. stacy says

    March 27, 2018 at 10:42 am

    Thanks for all of these wonderful resources! I love the discovery putty & the chewy necklaces and I would purchase a vest and weights with a giftcard.

    Reply
  35. Jennifer Armao says

    March 27, 2018 at 11:34 am

    visual timer

    Reply
  36. Fionnagh Yates says

    March 27, 2018 at 12:37 pm

    I would love the fidget faces, I have a couple of biters and they would benefit from their feedback

    Reply
  37. Beth Steese says

    March 27, 2018 at 1:48 pm

    I entered the giveaway..thanks for all the great information. My son has SPD and as a preschool this is all very inspiring!

    Reply
  38. Sandra Claeys says

    March 27, 2018 at 2:05 pm

    Calming cards.

    Reply
  39. Jasmin Richter says

    March 27, 2018 at 4:59 pm

    I’m interested in the putty or calming cards.

    Reply
  40. Jessica Gipson says

    March 28, 2018 at 11:27 am

    I would purchase the Social Skills Board Games.

    Reply
  41. Lindsey Bell says

    March 28, 2018 at 2:48 pm

    I think I would buy one of the chairs…or an indoor swing if they have one that would work in our home.

    Reply
  42. Melanie says

    March 28, 2018 at 7:32 pm

    Would love the calming cards!!!

    Reply
  43. Brandy Navarro says

    March 28, 2018 at 7:44 pm

    Oh my goodness so many great ideas and things! Thank you for the opportunity I think I would love the beanbag chair and the calming cards, but it’s really hard to choose!

    Reply
  44. Victoria Panetta says

    March 28, 2018 at 8:25 pm

    I would love the discovery putty! So many fun ideas! Thank you!

    Reply
  45. Bonnie says

    March 28, 2018 at 8:32 pm

    I would get the noise cancelling head phones.

    Reply
  46. Katherine Brubaker says

    March 28, 2018 at 9:19 pm

    The XXT Grabber Kit would be super for my son who chews/eats everything from paper clips to those sound-reducing ear “muffs” and his clothes! I’d get a lot of them! Thank you for such wonderful, helpful ideas!

    Reply
  47. Angie says

    March 28, 2018 at 9:20 pm

    I love the variety in this calm down tool box. Would especially love to ee how my little guy reacts to using the putty and cards.

    Reply
  48. Karen says

    March 28, 2018 at 11:52 pm

    I would love the discovery putty and the necklace!

    Reply
  49. Heather says

    March 29, 2018 at 6:42 am

    If I won the gift certificate, I think I’d probably put it towards a new compression vest for my son as he outgrew his ages ago but still is always seeking that input.

    Reply
  50. Joyce Hepler says

    March 29, 2018 at 6:33 pm

    I would love the calming cards or the visual timers.

    Reply
  51. Allie says

    March 29, 2018 at 11:11 pm

    I would love to get the discovery putty

    Reply
  52. lindsey says

    April 2, 2018 at 1:49 am

    i’d love a sensory sock or something to chew on.

    Reply
  53. Jen Stempky says

    April 2, 2018 at 11:48 am

    I would like the calming cards and another visual timer to share in a classroom.

    Reply
  54. marie says

    April 2, 2018 at 12:27 pm

    i am an ot student and i would love to purchase a variety of things to put in my ot fieldwork activity kit for my activity analysis class

    Reply

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