What Is A Calm Down Kit?
Do you have a calm down kit at home or in your special education classroom yet? Have you noticed that your students are coming into school more dysregulated than ever? A calming kit is a great addition to any special education classroom. If you are a parent, do you need some visuals and strategies to help with self-regulation at home? A calm down kit can help you too!
If you are like me, you have needed to use more co-regulation techniques in your early childhood special education classroom (early elementary too!). You may wonder, “how can I start teaching my young autistic students/child how to self-regulate?”. I have a new calm down kit that has a variety of visual tools to help you get started.
My Child Is Not Able To Self-Regulate Yet
For many 3 and 4 year old non-speaking autistic children, self-regulation can be very challenging. You are probably already using co-regulation techniques to help your students or child. One way you can help is to start working on taking “deep breaths”. If your child doesn’t understand what that means, start with blowing activities. Blowing is a natural way to get your students or child to take deep breaths. Work the blowing and deep breaths into a calming sequence. A calming sequence is a series of actions that a child can learn to help them calm down. For example, “deep breaths, squeeze hands, rub legs”.
Build Predictable Routines
It is important to use visual supports to build predictable routines. This also applies to strategies for calming down. When you build predictable routines, some of these self-regulation techniques will become more “automatic” for children. This will help make the transition from co-regulation to self-regulation over time. Be sure to practice these routines at times when the child is calm and regulated. Make it fun! Practice, practice, practice so that when the skill is needed to calm down, it can be accessed more easily.
Put A Calming Kit In A Calming Corner
Many classrooms now have a designated space called a “calming corner”. It is a small place in the classroom where a child can go to reset and calm down. There is typically a comfy place to sit and relax. A calming corner usually has a variety of fidget toys. It also has visual supports to prompt students on ways they can self-regulate. Calming corners can be set up in classrooms, child care settings, homes, or anywhere else they are needed! There are many different calming kits for sale that can be added to these calming corners. I created a calming kit geared toward the early childhood level. It is simple and will help children move from co-regulation to self-regulation.
I’d love to hear from you! If you implement my calming kit in your home or classroom, be sure to send me an email with a picture. Send it to autismlittlelearners@gmail.com.
More Self Regulation Information
Self Regulation And Emotions: 3 Easy Ways To Support Autistic Children
Self Regulation Of Emotions In Autism: 5 Ways To Help!
9 Fidget Toys For Self Regulation Of Emotions
5 Of The Best Sensory Children’s Books For Preschool
Self-Regulation Mini-Training On YouTube
Co-Regulation Mini-Training On YouTube
If you use visual supports in your classroom or home, you are going to want to sign up for this free Visual Supports Starter Set ASAP! Click here to have one sent to your inbox.
I wish that I knew about these type of resources when I first started teaching. Thanks for sharing your resouces.