A calm down box has a variety of sensory tools that a child is encouraged to use when they are feeling frustrated, intense anger and big emotions.
The items inside the box help a child to self regulate and to calm down. Self-regulation is the child’s ability to adjust and control their energy level, emotions, behaviours and attention.
The sensory tools can support a child to calm down by helping them to engage in calming and relaxing activities that are visual and hands-on.
The following provides a list of sensory tools that can be included inside a calm down box:
Items That Provide Proprioceptive Support
- Weighted lap cushion or weighted stuffed animal
- A weighted vest or pressure vest
- Stretchy resistance bands
- Sensory tunnel
- Mini massager
- Body sock
- Small blanket
- Punching bag or bop bag
- Mini massager
- Weighted lap cushion
- Hand weights
- Resistance/exercise bands
- Compression clothing
- Heated blanket
- Weighted blanket
- Skipping rope
Items To Squeeze & Keep Hands Busy
- Fidgets like Tangle Jr. or puffer ball
- Rubik’s Cube
- Playdough or silly putty
- Pipe cleaners
- Stress balls
- Bubble wrap
- Bag of tissue paper to rip
- Scarves or fabric scraps
- Spinning top
- LEGO kits
- Stress balls
- Rubik’s Cube
- Wooden or metal logic puzzles
- Craft kits
- Cat’s cradle
Items To Support Breathing & Relaxation
- Bottle of bubbles
- Pinwheels
- Straws and cotton balls or pom poms
- Book of yoga poses or yoga activity cards
Items For Olfactory Sensory Support
- Calming essential oil spray
- Smelling bottles
- Scratch and sniff stickers
- Calming essential oil spray
- Scented lotion
Items To Get Kids Moving
- Book of yoga poses or yoga activity cards
- Skipping rope
Items For Auditory Sensory Support
- Noise-cancelling headphones
- MP3 player with music
- Audiobooks
Items That Give Kids A Brain Break
- Puzzles
- Books to read
- Blank notebook/journal and writing utensils
- Colouring books
- Scratch-art doodle pad
- Activity books
- Brain Quest cards
- Doodle books
- Mad Libs
- One player travel-sized games
- Small chalkboard, Magna-Doodle, Etch-a-Sketch, or Boogie Board
Items For Oral Motor Sensory Support
- Chew toy or chew necklace
- Chewing gum, hard candies, or lollipops
- Snacks with a variety of textures
- Whistle, harmonica, party blowers, or similar
- Rescue Remedy Spray
Items To Visually Calm
- Visual calm down cards
- Sensory bottle or calm down jar
- Light up toys
- Flashlight
- Plastic snow globe
- Kaleidoscope
- Hourglass
- Eye mask
Reference:
Calm Down Kit For Kids, Nextcomes ESL
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