Calming Kits

In preschool, we are learning about social/ emotional awareness, including how to name our emotions/feelings and how to calm ourselves when needed.  Our friends from Meetinghouse Church in Edina put together calming kits for our families to have at home. They have similar items to what we use in our classrooms at Whittier Wildflowers Preschool.

Suggestions:

• Keep the calming kit in a special place to be used as needed.

• Practice the calming techniques when your child is calm. 

• “How are you feeling?” If the child is not able to say how they feel, “It looks to me like you may be feeling…”

• Model calming techniques to your child. “When I’m feeling upset, I take deep breaths.” 

Calming Ideas:

• Comfort item - blanket, stuffed animal, etc.

• Draw an angry/happy/sad picture, 

• Take a break - be by oneself for a while, look at a book

• Cuddle, rocking chair

• Sensory input - “Do you need a tight squeeze?”, play with playdough, water, sand

• Taking deep breaths

• Blow a pinwheel

• Blow bubbles

• 5 finger breaths - run one finger up and down the fingers on your other hand slowly taking a breath in as you go up the finger and blow out slowly as your finger goes down.

More ideas for kids (and grown ups):

• Take care of your basic needs

• Take deep breaths

• Drink water

• Take a rest

• Have a healthful snack

• Move your body - stretch, take a walk/run

• Sunshine

• Mental health - therapy

• Connect with yourself

• How am I feeling right now?

• Journal

• Pray/ meditate

• Be creative - write a poem, paint, knit, draw, build…

• Connect with others

• Call a friend

• Meet for a walk/ playdate

• Nurture relationships within a community, like in a faith-based community or neighborhood

• Connect with nature

• Garden/ have indoor plants

• Pause to watch the sun rise or set

• Notice the nature around you

• Listen to the birds, water flowing, play meditative music