Every child should learn coping skills.
And every child can benefit from having their own homemade calm down kit, filled with calming tools and things that suit their needs and interests.
I've always tried my best to teach my kids emotional regulation strategies such as deep breathing exercises, talking about emotions, and doing meditation as a family.
It is my hope that they'll feel confident managing anxiety, stress, and sensory overwhelm because they've practiced these different strategies. And having a tailor-made calm down box is another one of the strategies we use to promote healthy self-regulation skills.
So if you've been wondering how to make a calm down kit for your own kids, then look no further than this free printable list of 40+ things to put in their kit.
While this list is geared towards smaller children, I also have a list geared specifically towards older kids.
What to Include in a Calm Down Kit for Kids
There are lots of different things that you can include in a calm down kit and obviously, you will want to tailor it to your child(ren). Here are 40+ things you can put in a calm down kit for anxious kids:
1. Free printable visual calm down strategies cards
4. Small puzzle
5. Fidgets such as Tangle Jr. or puffer ball
6. Weighted lap cushion or stuffed animal - You can find some great DIY ideas under tip #10 here.
7. Weighted vest or pressure vest
10. Hearing protection ear muffs or noise canceling headphones
11. Chewing gum, hard candies, or lollipops - We love Pur natural chewing gum and Spry natural chewing gum!
12. Calming essential oil spray
13. Rescue remedy - I swear by this stuff! Seems to instantly calm meltdowns!
14. MP3 player with music and/or audiobooks - Be sure to include headphones and an accompanying book for the audiobook so they can read along while listening.
15. Book of yoga poses or printable yoga cards
16. Blank notebook and a writing utensil (crayons, pencil crayons, markers, or similar)
17. Sensory bottle or calm down jar - I love this post about 6 ways to make a calm down jar from Preschool Inspirations.
18. Skipping rope - Try our DIY skipping rope that's made from straws!
19. Visual stims such as a kaleidoscope or an hourglass
20. Books to read
21. Activity books: dot to dots, mazes, word searches, I Spy, etc. - Or print off a bunch of our I Spy printables and include them in your calm down kit!
22. Stress balls
23. Play dough or silly putty
24. Photo album filled with photos of family and friends
25. Small blanket
26. Bubble wrap
27. Pinwheels - To encourage deep breathing and blowing out.
28. Rubik's cube
29. Small chalk board and chalk, Magna-Doodle, Etch-a-Sketch, or Boogie Board for doodling and drawing
30. Eye mask
31. Tissue paper to rip - Fill a zipper seal bag with tissue paper. Kids can rip what they need.
32. Light up toys, flashlight, or similar
33. Plastic snow globe - Acts like a calm down or sensory bottle and makes for a great visual stim.
34. Snacks with a variety of textures like crunchy (pretzels or nuts), chewy (fruit leather or dried fruit), or soft (marshmallows)
35. Pipe cleaners to twist and bend
36. Coloring books
37. Scarves or fabric scraps
38. Spinning top
39. Mini massager
40. Scratch and sniff stickers
41. Whistle, harmonica, party blowers, or similar small wind instrument - To encourage kids to breath out. Also, making music is a great way to release a variety of emotions.
42. Small mirror for making silly faces and exploring emotions
43. Straws and pom poms or cotton balls - A great oral motor idea to encourage deep breaths.
44. Body sock - Kids can retreat into a body sock for calming proprioceptive sensory input. Since they fold up relatively small, they make a great addition to a calm down kit.
45. Smelling bottles - Just fill bottles with calming scents, such as lavender.
47. Social stories dedicated to deep breathing, calming strategies, chewing, or loud noises
Other Great Calm Down Tools for Anxious Kids
Here are some items that you might want to have accessible to your child during their calm down time. I even encourage you to create or designate an entire space to be your child's calm down corner and include these items in it.
1. Wiggle/balance cushion - Great for sitting on, walking on, balancing, on, etc.
3. Large cardboard box, fort, or ball pit - Kids will love retreating to these quiet places, but using a ball pit also provides lots of calming proprioceptive input.
4. Exercise ball - Perfect for bouncing or balancing on.
5. Mini trampoline - Great for kids who love to jump as a way to calm down.
Download the Free Printable Calm Down Kit List
