If you’re setting up a calm down corner in your home or classroom, you might be wondering what types of calming corner items you should include. We’ve got all the must-have things you need in your calming space to ensure it’s a place where your kids can regulate their big emotions and build the life skills they need to manage difficult feelings.
As parents, we all want our children to feel safe, relaxed, and comfortable in their surroundings.
That’s why setting up their very own calm-down corner can be such a game-changer, especially when kids need a little extra help regulating and tuning out the world around them.
But what are the must-have items that parents should keep in mind when creating this special space?
From calming corner posters to cozy textiles, sensory toys, coloring pages, and books, there’s no shortage of options to choose from.
However, there’s also one critical tip that parents simply can’t afford to miss.
In this post, we’ll reveal the best things you need to create a soothing, safe space for your child, what we used in our own space, and what to avoid at all costs.
This post is all about the most important calming corner items for your kids.
5 Most Important Calming Corner Items
1) Calming Corner Posters
When it came to setting up our calming area, the very first things we grabbed were the calming corner posters.
These posters serve as a visual reminder, offering kids a helpful guide to self-regulation steps and a variety of coping skills and calming strategies.
Whenever they’re feeling overwhelmed or upset, they can turn to these posters for guidance.
We opted to go with the Generation Mindful time-in toolkit, which is a calming corner kit that includes a whole set of posters specially designed to help kids navigate their big feelings using a variety of different strategies.
And I absolutely love that they are not only incredibly helpful, but they are also super visually appealing!
What makes this calm down kit invaluable to us is that it came with a comprehensive digital manual that really spells out how to make the most of your calming corner.
This was something we had NO CLUE how to do because we weren’t raised with these kinds of tools.
It’s like having a roadmap for not only creating an amazing space but also supporting our kids in the most effective way possible.
I’ve even learned a ton about myself from it in my own reparenting journey.
We absolutely love it!
Please click here to learn more about Generation Mindful’s Time-In Toolkits.
[RELATED: Generation Mindful Calming Corner Review: Is The Time-In Toolkit Worth it?]
2) Cozy Seating
When setting up a calming corner for your kids, it’s crucial to create an extra cozy and inviting space.
The goal is to provide them with a comfortable area where they can focus on regulating their emotions and finding solace. So, let’s dive into the details!
First off, make sure to choose a quiet place in the room for your cozy corner.
This will help your children to concentrate on soothing themselves rather than being distracted by noises from the outside world.
Now, let’s talk about making this soothing space cozy and inviting.
Get creative with the materials you use – soft pillows, cozy blankets in your kids’ favorite colors, and comfy cushions are all fantastic choices.
Your child should feel drawn to this spot and want to be there.
It’s all about creating an inviting and comforting atmosphere!
Remember, the calming corner is not just a physical space, but a refuge where your child can turn to when they feel overwhelmed or need a break. So, focus on making it truly a safe place for them to be.
By doing so, you’ll help your kids develop healthy emotional regulation skills and provide them with a little haven in the midst of this crazy world.
Here are the cozy items we used in our calming corner:
Stuffed Animal Storage Bean Bag Cover
We were on a mission to create a calming corner for our daughter, but to have the space, her pile of plush toys needed a special spot.
Enter this amazing stuffed animal storage bean bag cover made of super-soft velvet material.
With a simple zip, it opens up to reveal all of her beloved stuffed animals.
Not only does it keep them neatly organized, but it also provides a cozy spot to relax and unwind.
And the best part? Our 4-year-old is obsessed with it!
Decorative Throw Pillows
I came across these incredibly soft and fun throw pillows that would bring extra cohesion and comfort to our daughter’s calming space.
We love how they’re small enough to be easily moved around and used however you like, whether hugging it tightly or snuggling up with a good book.
Our daughter has taken a liking to the heart-shaped pillow and now uses it as her main pillow.
Pink Circle Floor Rug
To create a designated area within the room, I decided to add a rug to our calming space.
This pink circular rug from Amazon fits the space beautifully and is delightfully soft to sit or lie on.
Although I do wish it was machine washable, the price was just right, and it serves its purpose perfectly.
If you have it in your budget, many moms LOVE the Ruggable rugs for kids’ spaces due to their washability and pattern options.
3) Sensory Items
Sensory items are a great way to help your kids relax and regulate their emotions during stressful times.
Incorporating sensory toys or fidget toys into your child’s calm-down area can give them the comfort they need to unwind and feel secure. It’s like you’re own little sensory room in a basket.
Some great options for sensory toys include stress balls, fidget spinners, therapeutic chewers, popper toys, sensory strings, and sensory bottles that contain glitter or beads.
These toys provide tactile stimulation that can help your child focus and release anxiety, especially if they are a sensory seeker like my daughter.
Additionally, soft items like plush toys, weighted blankets, or textured objects can offer a calming sensation for your child to cuddle or touch.
It’s important to choose sensory items that are age-appropriate and safe for your child to use.
By providing a range of sensory activities in your child’s calm-down area, you’re giving them the tools they need to manage their emotions and find peace during challenging times.
[RELATED: How to Make DIY Sensory Bottles: The Simple Method That Finally Worked!]
[RELATED: How to Make a DIY Oil and Water Sensory Bottle For Kids]
4) Calming Activities
Calming activities are another really important element of any calming area for children.
A great place to start is with a coloring book, which can help your child unwind and express their creativity.
Of course, I don’t want the entire calming corner colored so I do keep the crayons in a separate area and get them for my child if she wants them.
Other options include puzzles, building blocks, or Play-Doh.
Every kid is different so it’s important to choose activities that are age-appropriate and engaging for your child.
We love having the Calming Corner Strategies poster that came with the time-in toolkit from Generation Mindful, which gives a visual reminder of a variety of calming activities that your child can choose from when they need it.
It helps give your child control over selecting their own calming activity, empowering them to take ownership of their emotions and develop healthy coping skills based on whatever they feel they need most at that moment.
Remember, what is helpful in one situation, might not work the best in the next so it may take some trial and error to find activities that work best for your child.
The key is to just provide plenty of options and let your child choose.
5) Social Emotional Learning Books
For young children, managing big feelings can be a challenge.
That’s where social-emotional learning books come in – they’re a great way to encourage emotional intelligence and help kids process their emotions in a healthy way.
Including these books in a calming corner can give children a safe space to explore their feelings and learn how to regulate them.
Children can often feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to manage these feelings, and even as adults, we may not always know the best ways to cope either.
That’s why books can provide amazing guidance and support in helping to learn and teach these critical skills to kids.
Here are some of our favorite emotional learning books:
Slumberkins: Lynx, Trust Yourself
Slumberkins has an amazing collection of social and emotional learning resources that we love!
One of our favorite books from them specifically helps kids gain self-confidence by teaching them about setting boundaries and valuing their opinions and feelings. It’s truly empowering!
We decided to get the snuggler set, which includes the book and a cute Lynx snuggler, and our daughter is absolutely obsessed with the Lynx.
If you just want the book, though, you have the option to purchase it on its own as well.
The best part is that Slumberkins offers a wide range of books in this series, so you can choose the topics that will be most valuable to you and your child.
Grumpy Monkey
My 4-year-old absolutely loves Grumpy Monkey!
She insists on reading it every week when it’s bedtime.
As a mom, I adore how this story teaches kids that it’s okay to feel grumpy every now and then and that those feelings won’t last forever.
Sometimes, it’s alright to be grumpy for a little while.
Heart’s Treasure Hunt
This lesser-known social-emotional learning book came with the Time-In Toolkit bundle we selected from Generation Mindful, and it’s such a heartwarming little story.
The book follows the journey of a Heart as it searches for love.
But here’s the beautiful part: the story concludes with a powerful message.
At the end of the book, there’s a mirror that reminds us that love resides within each one of us.
Discover more of our favorites in our post: 45+ Best Social Emotional Learning Books for Kids.
The MOST important thing to remember
The most important thing to remember when creating a calm corner in your home is that it should be a positive place that encourages connection between you and your kids.
When used correctly, this can help set your kids on the path to success, prompting them to develop into empathetic and well-adjusted adults.
This is not a place for punishment, shame, or guilt.
As we have seen throughout this blog post, there are many items that you can use to make the calming corner meaningful as well as warm and inviting.
Feel free to tailor the components of your calming corner according to your own needs and preferences, so it is comfortable not only for your children but also for you as a parent.
Remember: no one knows better what will work for your kids than you do!
At the end of the day, creating a calming corner is about harnessing simple techniques that help build relationships while helping children cope with difficult emotions.
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Generation Mindful Time-In Toolkit includes:
- My Calming Corner Poster Set
- Peacemakers Affirmations Card Deck
- Time-In Activity Mat & Calming Cards
- Printable time-in activities & coloring sheets
- “Taking Time Ins” Digital Manual
Individual items listed:
- Generation Mindful Calming Strategies Poster (include in time-in toolkit)
- Generation Mindful Plush Toys
- Purple Bean Bag Cover
- Round Pink Floor Rug
- Soft Heart and Rainbow Throw Pillows
- Stress Balls
- Fidget Spinners
- Therapeutic Chewers
- Popper Toys
- Sensory Strings
- Sensory Bottles
- Weighted Blankets
- Puzzles
- Building Blocks
- Play-Doh
- Grumpy Monkey Book
- Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave Book
- Heart’s Treasure Hunt Book
- Slumberkins: Lynx, Trust Yourself Book
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This post was all about the most important calming corner items for your kids.
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