Are you looking for a way to create a relaxing, calming corner for kids in your home or classroom? With just a few thoughtful touches, this small space will become a safe place where young children can enjoy some relaxation, navigate big emotions, and learn critical social and emotional skills.
If you’re a parent, grandparent, guardian, or teacher, this post is for you!
Do your kids have strong emotions sometimes and need that designated space where they can learn to get through those tough moments in a healthy way?
Sometimes, it’s hard for little ones to self-regulate their emotions like we grown-ups do.
Heck, it’s even hard for most grown-ups to do, especially since, for most of us, emotions were seen as “bad behavior,” and we were told to “be quiet” or “stop crying.”
We were taught to suppress emotions rather than learn emotional regulation, which can make our own kids’ emotions feel especially triggering for us.
But we all know that suppression doesn’t make the feeling go away; it just causes it to come up at a new time in a bigger and more disruptive way.
That’s why creating a calming corner in your home might be just what you need to help your kids navigate those big feelings they experience.
If you have no clue where to start with your own calm-down corner, don’t worry!
We found an amazing calming corner kit with all the information and necessary tools to get started down the right track.
In this post, I’ll share all about this kit with you and how easy (and fun!) it is to create a calm down corner so your kiddo always has a safe spot at home whenever life gets overwhelming.
After all, there’s nothing quite like having a safe space to land that’s devoted specifically to comfort and relaxation!
The only problem after I built this for my preschooler is that now I want one, too!
This post is all about how to set up the perfect calming corner to help your kids navigate their big feelings.
- What is a calming corner, and why should you set one up?
- Steps to Create the Perfect Calming Corner
- 1) Find the right spot
- 2) Hang calming corner posters
- 3) Make it a comfy space
- 4) Include a variety of calming items, games, and activities
- 5) Incorporate peaceful music or sounds
- Tips for teaching kids how to use the calming corner
- Shop This Post
- Concluding Thoughts
How to Create a Calming Corner for Your Kids
What is a calming corner, and why should you set one up?
A calming corner is a dedicated space in your home or classroom where kids can take a break, calm down, and regulate their emotions if they’re having a hard time.
The calming corner is typically in a quiet place and equipped with self-regulation tools such as cushions, a weighted blanket, fidget toys, books, and soft lighting to create a peaceful atmosphere.
By establishing a safe space for children to retreat to during times of overwhelm, anxiety, or frustration, you are helping them develop valuable life skills and emotional regulation strategies.
It’s also a fantastic way to show kids that their feelings matter and to encourage open conversations about mental health.
It’s important to note that this is NOT a time-out corner.
It is a positive place for social-emotional learning where children and adults can collaborate, support, and learn about coping skills together.
I have a lot of things, but time is not one of them, so to make this easy, I opted to buy a calming corner kit from a company called Generation Mindful.
They do a great job of making the setup process easy, adequately explaining the critical distinction between time-outs and time-ins, and giving you the tools you need to successfully implement this positive parenting strategy.
It’s not the cheapest option out there, but considering the massive benefit we’ve seen from using the kit, I think it’s quite affordable.
Please click here to learn more about this amazing toolkit and all that it has to offer.
[RELATED: Full Generation Mindful Calming Corner Review: Is The Time-In Toolkit Worth it?]
Steps to Create the Perfect Calming Corner
1) Find the right spot
Finding the right spot is everything when creating a calming corner for your little one.
You want to choose a calming space that is quiet, away from distractions, and ultimately feels peaceful to both you and your child.
It does not have to be a large space; don’t stress about it being perfect, but it’s important to choose somewhere that at least one child and one other adult can comfortably sit together.
Whether it’s a cozy nook in the classroom or a dedicated corner in your home, consider what would work best for your child.
Maybe it’s near a window with natural light or tucked away in a corner with a soft rug.
We chose a small spot between our daughter’s IKEA Kura bed and her closet, which works great!
It’s also right next to the books in her room, so it doubles as a cozy little reading nook.
No matter what, make sure it’s a space that feels safe and inviting to your toddler or preschooler.
[RELATED: What is a Sensory Room? Understanding the Many Benefits for Autistic Kids]
2) Hang calming corner posters
Click here to go to genmindful.com to purchase our favorite calming corner posters.
When I first saw these posters, I immediately fell in love with the inviting colors and how they are designed to help children identify and manage their emotions.
As an adult who never really learned how to cope with or regulate tough emotions, I didn’t even know where to begin with helping my own daughter do this.
But I’m being 100% honest when I say this calm-down kit made it so easy with their pre-made posters, digital downloads, and step-by-step instructions!
And, even after just a couple of days, my 4-year-old was already learning to name and identify so many more emotions.
Incorporating these posters into your calming corner gives your child a visual reminder of different emotions and calming strategies they can use when feeling upset or overwhelmed, like taking a few deep breaths or coloring a picture.
I also love how the posters are cute and fun to look at, which is one of the reasons I was initially drawn to them.
Click here to learn more about these calming corner poster options.
Included with the Calming Corner Toolkit:
- 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
3) Make it a comfy space
Making our calming corner cozy and inviting was one of the most fun parts for me.
Admittedly, I made a lot of trips back and forth to the UPS store, making returns to Amazon before I found the perfect collection of items.
To make a cozy space, you can use any variety of bean bags, floor cushions, pillows, or even a soft mat.
Our daughter’s favorite color is purple, so we used a purple bean bag cover filled with all her stuffed animals.
So, it does double duty, giving her a cozy place to hang out while also providing a place to store her stuffed animals.
We desperately needed this as her room was small, and the calming corner took up the space where her stuffed animals used to live.
We also added a soft pink floor rug and some cozy decorative pillows to tie everything together.
While picking items for her calming corner, I was also thinking ahead to the future as I plan to give her a princess-themed room, so I wanted to make sure everything would still match.
4) Include a variety of calming items, games, and activities
By including various calming items in your child’s calm-down area, you provide them with plenty of different resources to relax and de-stress whenever needed.
These should be items that offer a sense of comfort and security for your child, which can have a positive impact on your child’s emotional well-being.
Plush toys, blankets, and sensory items can all help to soothe and comfort, while fidget toys can provide a helpful outlet for anxious energy.
Building a calm-down area tailored to your child’s preferences and needs gives them a powerful tool for learning to manage their emotions.
Calming Corner Activities
In our corner, we have a small basket that is comprised of all of our resources from the toolkit we purchased.
This includes the Peacemakers affirmation cards and cling stickers (one of our daughter’s favorites!), the time-in activity mat and calming cards, a visual timer, and the Brave Red Bear Snugglebuddy.
We also printed off the Brave Bear Activity Book from Generation Mindful and keep it in our basket.
This was a fun resource included with the calming corner kit I hadn’t expected.
I decided to laminate the pages of this activity book and put it in a binder so we could use a whiteboard marker and then reuse it repeatedly.
We also included a basket of books nearby that teach various social-emotional skills.
I find books to be such a helpful resource in teaching tough topics and skills to my daughter when it’s otherwise hard to find the right words to say.
In addition to those things, she also has puzzles and coloring pages available to her if she chooses those as her calming activity, but my daughter tends to go rogue with art supplies, so I keep these in an area where they are always supervised, and I get these for her if she would like them.
For reference, the peacemakers affirmation cards, cling stickers, downloadable activity book, time-in activity mat, and calming cards are all included in the standard calming corning kit.
However, the Brave Red Bear Snugglebuddy was an additional cost.
We received him with the starter bundle we purchased, which I highly recommend as it also came with a fantastic positive parenting course.
This visual timer (not pictured) was purchased from Amazon.
Of course, bundling to get extra products is never a necessity.
But it can save you money in the long run if you eventually want to purchase more.
If your budget is tight now, you can purchase only the calming corner kit and still get abundant benefits.
Click here to learn more about the money-saving bundle options available to you.
Soothing items
I also included our Fisher Price Soothe n’ Snuggle Koala because my toddler finds it soothing.
We bought this after we purchased it for my sister’s newborn because she liked it so much.
It’s a sound machine with sounds like white noise, a heartbeat, or some calming music, but its belly also moves up and down in a breathing motion.
You can set it to your favorite features on the back of the koala.
The other calming item I decided to incorporate into our calming corner is this Slumberkins Snugglers book and plush toy.
The plush toy is not pictured, as it hasn’t left my daughter’s sight since she got it in her Easter basket this year, but you can check out the full set here on Amazon.
We have the Lynx who represents self-expression and setting healthy boundaries.
What I love most about Slumberkins Snugglers is they have many different options to help with whatever you want to teach your kids, such as mindfulness, conflict resolution, or stress relief.
It seemed like the perfect addition to our calming corner lineup, and we’ve slowly been adding more snugglers and books as they fit into our budget.
Sensory items & fidgets
Our daughter has autism and is very responsive to sensory input.
For this reason, we knew it would be important to include various sensory items in her calming corner as well.
This basket includes various fidget toys, a sensory bottle she helped make herself, stress balls, and a few items she can chew on.
These types of items are great for all kids to have access to, not necessarily just those with sensory-processing disorders.
Eventually, I plan to move her calming corner to our sensory room when it is completed.
5) Incorporate peaceful music or sounds
Have you ever noticed how music or certain sounds can transport you to another place, bringing peace and calm?
That’s exactly why calming music and peaceful sounds can be so helpful in your child’s calming corner.
Whether they’re dealing with feelings of anxiety or stress or need a quiet moment to unwind, having a designated space to relax can do wonders for their mental and emotional well-being.
And when you add calming music or peaceful sounds like flowing water or gentle rain, the atmosphere becomes even more soothing.
We will typically use our soothing koala toy, our Amazon Echo Dot, or our daughter’s Hatch sound machine for soothing sounds in our calming corner.
Tips for teaching kids how to use the calming corner
- Make it a positive place to be – Remember, this is where your kids should want to go. It is a place that provides a feeling of safety and never shame, fear, or discomfort. They know it as a place that helps them feel better, more relaxed, and at ease. A place where they can connect and get support from mom or dad if they’re having a hard time. It is not a place your child goes for punishment or judgment. It simply will not work if that’s the case. If you’re unsure how to strike this delicate balance, I highly recommend the Positive Parenting course Generation Mindful offers.
- Introduce the calming corner and resources during peaceful times – Don’t wait until there is a major meltdown to introduce your child to a calming corner. Start by showing them the resources and strategies during times of calm. And, remember, a dysregulated person won’t be able to think clearly or reasonably (Generation Mindful’s parenting course describes this as the “red brain”), so when an emotional outburst does occur, it’s best to wait until the temperature has dropped a bit before trying these strategies with your child. Give them a chance to process their emotions and begin to cool down.
- Take a Positive Parenting Course – I highly recommend this parenting course. It goes hand in hand with the calming corner toolkit and is worth every penny. It focuses on parenting skills for your child, recognizing your triggers, and dealing with them more healthily and positively. Remember, you’re learning with your child; there’s no shame in not knowing it all at the start. If you’re interested in the calming corner kit and parenting course, I recommend purchasing one of the available bundles that includes both to get the best bang for your buck.
- Read the digital manual that comes with your toolkit – If you purchase the toolkit, read through the entire digital manual they provide. This will give you plenty of tips and tricks to use your calming corner best. It’s pretty lengthy but certainly worth your time to make the most of your investment.
- Make social-emotional learning part of your daily routine – Learning how to regulate emotions shouldn’t only be taught when disaster strikes. Make it a daily routine to take time in the calming corner with your child, talk through affirmations, learn about new emotions, read a book, or snuggle up and connect.
[RELATED: Reparenting Yourself: 9 Powerful Ways to Heal Your Inner Child]
Shop This Post
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
Generation Mindful Time-In Starter Bundle includes:
- Everything in the Time-In Toolkit
- Positive Parenting Online Course
- Red Bear SnuggleBuddies Emotions Plush Toy
- Heart’s Treasure Hunt Book
Generation Mindful Positive Parenting Online Course (included in time-in starter bundle)
Soft Heart and Rainbow Throw Pillows
Fisher Price Soothe ‘n Snuggle Koala
Concluding Thoughts
Overall, I hope this post has encouraged you to create an inviting and calming environment for your children that truly brings out their best.
I know I’ve said it plenty, but I really can’t recommend Generation Mindful’s Calming Corner kit enough.
You can create an amazing calming corner without it, but they make it so much easier, and their resources ensure you get started on the road to success.
I was nervous about spending the money at first, but I couldn’t be happier with it and honestly would have been lost without the wonderful guidance they provided.
From the calming corner kit to parenting courses to helpful blog content, these invaluable resources have made life much easier for our family.
If budget is of concern, I recommend starting with the basic time-in toolkit alone, but if you can swing it, the added resource of the parenting course included with the full bundle is well worth it.
I am so thankful I found Generation Mindful, as it is helping me and my child learn to express emotions and build a stronger bond along the way. Click here to learn more, or click on one of the buttons below.