Calm-Down Corner
Children practice using a cozy space and simple strategies to settle big feelings.
Ages 30–60 months
Materials
- A small cozy space with cushions
- Calming tools (soft toy, breathing card, picture of calm strategies)
Steps
- Visit the corner together when everyone is calm.
- Practice one breathing strategy, like "smell the flower, blow the candle."
- Show how to hug the soft toy or look at the strategy cards.
- Explain that the corner is a place to feel better, never a punishment.
Variations
- Make a personal "calm kit" the child helps choose.
Differentiation
- For beginners, an adult sits and co-regulates in the corner.
- For older children, let them name which strategy they will try.
Accessibility
- Honor sensory needs (dim light, quiet, a weighted item) and use visual strategy cards.
Safety
- Keep the child in sight and stay close during big feelings.
Practices these skills
Evidence
- Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs (4th ed.) — National Association for the Education of Young Children · 2022 · National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) — U.S. Office of Head Start · 2015 · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Early Atlas