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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.
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!
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 Necklace
Visual Cards for CalmingDiscovery 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 ChairVisual TimerNoise Reduction Headphones
Get Your Free Calm Down Toolkit Printable Packet
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.
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.
- 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
Lisa Theriot says
I would love the visual timers or calming cards, or the happy face fidget necklace! I LOVE Fun and Function!
Caroline Jarvis says
I would love Heavy Herbet!
Laura says
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!
jen says
I would love to have the calming cards!
Debbie says
I would buy the discovery putty or the bean bag chair.
Sarah says
I would get the calming cards!
Christin George says
If I won the gift card for Fun and Function I would order Discovery Putty. The kids I work with absolutely love it!
Naomi Gansky says
Thank you so much for your post. I can’t wait to make my own calm down tool kits for my TK students.
Rachel says
This is such an amazing resource. I can’t wait to incorporate it in my class. These strategies are so needed.
Sarah says
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!!!
Beth says
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.
Brenda says
I would love to have the Mushy Smushy Bean Bag chair. Thanks.
Marlene Graham says
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 🙂
Jeanette Runnings says
Thanks for the Calm Down station handouts and for sharing such a wonderful give away!
Alyssa Lemmon says
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!
Katie Pascoe says
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!
Deborah Lindbergh says
I just recently discovered Fun and Function and ordered several things. I like the putty.
Linda Scharnhorst says
I would like the discovery putty and calming cards
shea thompson says
I would love the bean bag chair. I think every classroom needs bean bag chairs.
Liza Marie Norton says
I would love the discovery putty!
beth Marshall says
love this idea of a calming kit!!
Lata says
I would like the visual timer.
Coral says
I would buy the happy faces fidget necklaces, possibly the visual cards followed buy the visual clock in that order
Kathy Pender says
I think I would choose either the fidget necklaces or the visual timers. Thank you!
Tara says
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.
maggiespratt says
visual timer and the calming cards. thanks for putting this together
Shannon says
I would love the calm down visual cards!
Tami Qualls says
My son loves the bean bag at speech therapy. I’m sure he’d love one at home, as well.
Amy A says
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!
Alison Thorsted says
I would probably choose the Discovery Putty, my little one seems to enjoy it even though he dislikes so many sensory products.
Dana Sciullo says
Great ideas! As an occupational therapist, I love that you incorporate all of the senses.
Maribel Moon says
Thank you for this!
Katie Price says
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.
Elena says
I would get the calm down kit to help teach my little boy about feeling and how to calm down
Lindsey says
I would love to use the Sensory Calming Cards with my students. They look well made, visually appealing, and practical to use!
Michelle says
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!
Denise says
I’m a school OT. I go through so many chewie necklaces and putty. Both are needed.
stacy says
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.
Jennifer Armao says
visual timer
Fionnagh Yates says
I would love the fidget faces, I have a couple of biters and they would benefit from their feedback
Beth Steese says
I entered the giveaway..thanks for all the great information. My son has SPD and as a preschool this is all very inspiring!
Sandra Claeys says
Calming cards.
Jasmin Richter says
I’m interested in the putty or calming cards.
Jessica Gipson says
I would purchase the Social Skills Board Games.
Lindsey Bell says
I think I would buy one of the chairs…or an indoor swing if they have one that would work in our home.
Melanie says
Would love the calming cards!!!
Brandy Navarro says
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!
Victoria Panetta says
I would love the discovery putty! So many fun ideas! Thank you!
Bonnie says
I would get the noise cancelling head phones.
Katherine Brubaker says
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!
Angie says
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.
Karen says
I would love the discovery putty and the necklace!
Heather says
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.
Joyce Hepler says
I would love the calming cards or the visual timers.
Allie says
I would love to get the discovery putty
lindsey says
i’d love a sensory sock or something to chew on.
Jen Stempky says
I would like the calming cards and another visual timer to share in a classroom.
marie says
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