Teaching coping skills to older children and teens is important for emotional self-regulation. This free printable list of calm down tools and strategies for older kids is a great resource for parents!
The thing about kids with autism, anxiety, or sensory issues is that they grow up. Unfortunately, there is a serious lack of resources for parents of older children, pre-teens, teens, and yes, even adults.
You can easily find lots of calm down strategies and suggestions for toddlers, preschoolers, and young children, but there is a gap when it comes to older kids and up. Where are the calming strategies for older children?
Obviously, my kids are still quite young, so I don't have experience with pre-teens, teens, and adults with anxiety, sensory processing disorder, or autism. However, my oldest is already seven and is already requiring a different set of tools in his calm down kit than he did over the past few years.
So if you have been thinking of making a calm down kit geared towards an older child, then look no further than this list of 40+ calm down tools for older kids. I have also included a free printable for you to keep handy while shopping for items for the calm down kit.
40+ Calm Down Tools for Older Kids
There have been numerous times where people have commented that my list of 40+ calm down ideas for kids is geared towards smaller children, which it is, and have wished that there was a solid list of ideas for older children.
So whether you want to build a calm down kit for older kids or you just want a list of awesome calm down tools, then look no further than this list of 40+ calm down tools for older kids!
2. Hard candy like lollipops, jolly ranchers, Ring Pops, or anything else that can be sucked on
3. Noise canceling headphones for listening to music or audiobooks
6. LEGO kits
9. Calming essential oil spray
11. Blank notebook/journal and writing utensils
12. Coloring books
13. Skipping rope
14. Chapter books to read
15. Activity books: dot-to-dots, mazes, crosswords, sudoku, etc.
18. Wooden or metal logic puzzles or brain teasers
21. MP3 player or iPod loaded with music, audiobooks, nature sounds, etc.
22. Look and find books
27. Crunchy snacks
28. Gummy snacks
34. Compression clothing
37. Puzzles
43. Scented lotion
44. Scented candles
45. Sunglasses
Download the Free Printable Calm Down Tools for Older Kids List
Grab a copy of this free printable list. Then take it with you when you go shopping for easy reference.>> CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE PRINTABLE
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40+ Things to Put in a Calm Down Kit for Younger Kids
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