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You are here: Home / Sensory Regulation / 8 Best Kids Calming Ideas

8 Best Kids Calming Ideas

April 28, 2017 by Amy Smith

Wondering how to help kids calm down when they feel anxious or overly active?  Fortunately there are lots of  calming strategies that really do work, but the trick is knowing which ones work specifically for your child.  Below are the 8 best kids calming ideas.  They vary in the nature and way they calm kids so that some should appeal to every child.

Learn the 8 best Kids calming ideas! These 8 ways are sensory based and help calm kids down when they feel anxious or over active.

Joint Compressions– Provide gentle input at the joints to calm the body down

 

 Calming Cookie Dough– Roll out the “cookie dough” (child) with a “rolling pin” (therapy ball) to provide deep pressure input to calm the body down

 

DIY Calming Strategies – Learn several discrete strategies that can be done by yourself seated at a desk or seat without any equipment or adult assistance

 

 Social Stories- Learn how to give your child a “game plan” to help them prepare for an anxiety- provoking event

8 Best Calming Ideas for Kids

 

Create a Calm Space- Make a safe haven for your child to get away from being on sensory overload

 

Children girl writing notebook in camping tent with flowers
From copingskillsforkids.com

Calming Cozy Cocoon– Roll your child up tightly to provide proprioceptive input to calm the body and reassure feelings of body awareness and security 

8 best calming ideas for kids

 

Calming Yoga– Try these calming yoga poses to calm the body down

yoga-poses
Compliments of Childhood101.com

 

Make a Calming “Tool Box”- There are lots of calming tools and equipment you can get that can jump start the calming process.  You may want to try these items:

Snug Bug Pressure Blanket-An alternative to a weighted blanket that provides deep pressure to help with calming down.  $70.00.  Click on picture to purchase


Pressure Vest- Provides deep pressure and promotes feelings of calm, body awareness, and security for kids $53.99.  Click on picture to purchase

Pressure Swing- Tight fitting material combined with swinging motions facilitates the calming response- 69.70. Click on picture to purchase

 

Body Sock- Tight fitting material provides resistance against the body which facilitates feelings of calmness, body awareness, and security- $40.99. Click on picture to purchase

 

Because each child is different, each child will have different ways of calming down.   Try these activities with your child to see which ones work best and then take some time to relax together!

Note- Sometimes, children who have certain diagnoses can benefit from professional medical treatment in conjunction with these calming strategies that can be used by parents.   There’s a service that provides convenient psychiatric services online that may be a beneficial option for you.


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Filed Under: Sensory Regulation Tagged With: calming activities, coping skills

Disclaimer

Kids Play Smarter is a blog about general ideas, theories, and concepts related to the field of occupational therapy and the growth and development of all children. The information presented on this blog is not intended to serve as or replace occupational therapy services for your child. The information on this blog is for entertainment, informational, and educational purposes only. This blog is not meant to replace formal professional consultation or evaluation from a qualified clinician. All children need to have the approval of a physician to participate in physical activities, including those described on this blog. In addition, children need to be supervised by a responsible adult at ALL times when completing activities that are illustrated and described on this blog. The author of this blog is NOT responsible or liable for any damage, injury, accident, illness, death, or adverse reaction due to participation in the activities described on the website.

Welcome to Kids Play Smarter

Amy Smith I am an occupational therapist with over 10 years of experience working with children. I created this website to offer parents, teachers, and therapists FREE ideas, strategies, and activities that they can do with their children to improve their fine and gross motor skills, handwriting, academic learning, and regulate their sensory system all while "playing" (just playing smarter)! Read More…

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