10 Awesome Calm Down Area in Classroom Ideas: Plus Printable PDF Downloads
The idea of calming down ideas for kids is such an important one, especially in 2022 and beyond. Looking for some easy Calm Down Area in Classroom Ideas? Teachers will love these handy downloads and resources that you can add to your calm down area and start using it pronto!
>>> Looking for a BIG bundle of social emotional learning skills and printable tasks for kids? You and your students will love this bundle. <<<
This can be done in many ways. One way is to take a deep breath and count to 10. Another is to do some stretches or yoga poses.
And another way is to try and find something that makes you happy and focus on it for a while.
No matter how we try, we do need to find ways to help kids connect with their emotions, identify those emotions and in turn transform them into more positive ones to self regulate.
You won’t believe how much a bunch of goofy monsters can teach kids about feelings! 😄 If you’re looking for a fun, low-prep way to help little ones explore emotions, this Monster Moods coloring book is the perfect combo of creativity and SEL.
Let’s break down why it’s become my go-to resource for teaching emotions—without the eye rolls or “not this again” sighs.
Social Skill Stories (written in language for kids):
Grab the Free Token Board to Pair With This Social Story
If you are using this keeping clothes on social skills story, I highly recommend pairing it with a simple token board. Kids do so much better when there is something visual and concrete they are working toward, especially when we are teaching a new boundary or replacement behavior.
I created a FREE printable token board that you can laminate and use with Velcro coins, real tokens, or even little stars. Your student picks a preferred activity, earns five tokens for demonstrating the expected behavior, and then celebrates reaching their goal in a positive and structured way.
It works beautifully with this story, but honestly, it also works with accepting no, toilet routines, gentle hands, and any other social skill you are teaching. You can grab the free token board below and start using it right away in your classroom or at home.
[Grab the FREE Token Board Here]
What is a Calm Down Area in Classroom?
Why do we actually need calm down areas? I never thought I would need one, until, of course, I had to be in the classroom day in and out and watching my poor students struggle with regulating their own feelings and emotions.
I love using posters in the classroom, along with SEL stories. I actually created a Calm Down SEL story just the other day:
The biggest and most important thing when teaching SEL (social emotional learning)? Show kids that having feelings and emotions is a normal part of life.
This is so important, often we make kids feel that they shouldn’t be angry, they shouldn’t be sad. This couldn’t be far from the truth.
Related: Best Printable Feeling Words List PDF for Special Needs Kids
We, as adults have emotions like sadness, frustration, anger and more. So why do we expect our kids to suppress these feelings?
How do you teach kids feelings?
The first thing to remember is that children learn by doing. They need to practice the skills they are learning. If they are learning about feelings, then they need opportunities to feel those emotions.
You can show them pictures of people feeling different emotions and talk about what the people in the photos might be feeling. You can also encourage them to act out different emotions and tell how they feel when they do so.
How does a positive environment meet emotional needs?
A positive environment is one that is supportive and encouraging. It’s one where children are encouraged to explore, take risks, and make mistakes.
Children that grow up in a positive environment are more likely to be successful in school, have better relationships with friends and family, and feel good about themselves.
A positive environment can help kids develop and grow in a healthy way.
The most important thing in raising children is to create a safe and nurturing environment for them. This will provide them with the opportunity to explore and learn about their world, while feeling comfortable and secure in their surroundings.
Some more links and examples of emotional skills:
- 10 Best Kindness Bulletin Boards to Promote Social Skills
- Teaching Social Emotional Skills to Preschool: 10 Super Easy Books on Kindness
- How Social and Emotional Learning Interventions Can Save a Child’s Emotional Wellbeing
- Teaching Social Skills Fantastic Hands-on Ideas and Free Printables!
Acting out emotions will definitely be so much fun! Kids love to learn all about different emotions, and when we normalise accepting these feelings as normal.
There are many ways to teach kids about feelings. One way is to use SEL books that introduce different feelings in a fun and interactive way. Another way is to have conversations with them about their feelings.
Books are a great resource for introducing different emotions to children. They can be used as a starting point for conversations about how the character might be feeling and why they might be feeling that way or what they might do next.
Here are 10 Calm Down Area in Classroom Ideas
#1 Emotions Thermometer: teach emotional regulation with this super fun thermometer. This Emotions Thermometer Check In Binder and Poster options and more, includes printable emotions posters, check in binder pages and more.
#Plush Toys: check out this fun area set up by Faith Fit in PreK. She includes some fun plush toys, which I have linked below.
#3 Calming Strategies Poster: Use this super fun FREE calming strategies PDF poster in your little corner. This poster is FREE, grab it from the post below.
#4: Calm Down Area with Posters: Here’s another calm down area example area with posters that you can add to your classroom or are at home. You could also add plush animals and fidget toys like you would to any area, to help kids cool down. I’ll be adding links to these below.
Another way you could use the calm down area in your room, is to include social stories or a set of cards that kids can look at as a guide once they go to this corner. Regulating emotions is a tough thing to do if you’re a child is having a hard time choosing a regulating activity, have them use the cards for reference!
See these calm down strategies for more ideas on how to help kids with calm down activities and coping skills.
Classroom Calm Down Area Setups
Here are five creative ideas for setting up a calm-down area in a classroom for preschool to grade 2 students:
#4 Cozy Corner
- Design: Create a cozy nook with soft, neutral-colored cushions, bean bags, and a small rug.
- Props: Include sensory toys like stress balls, fidget spinners, and a weighted blanket. Add a basket of calming books with themes around emotions and mindfulness.
- Purpose: This space offers comfort and helps kids decompress when they’re feeling overwhelmed.
#5 Sensory Station
- Design: Set up a small table or shelf with a variety of sensory activities.
- Props: Incorporate items like kinetic sand, water beads, sensory bottles, and playdough. Add noise-canceling headphones and a small sound machine with nature sounds.
- Purpose: Engage students’ senses in calming activities, helping them focus and relax.
#6 Mindfulness Mat
- Design: Designate a space with a yoga mat or soft floor mat where students can practice mindfulness exercises.
- Props: Include a set of mindfulness cards with simple breathing exercises or guided imagery. Use a small hourglass or sand timer for focused breathing exercises.
- Purpose: Teach kids self-regulation through breathing and movement, helping them calm down and regain focus.
#7 Feelings Forest
- Design: Decorate a small area with a nature theme, using green colors, tree decals, and soft lighting.
- Props: Add plush animal toys, emotion cards, and a mirror where kids can observe their expressions. Include calming scents like lavender sachets.
- Purpose: This nature-inspired area helps students connect with their feelings in a peaceful environment.
#8 Peaceful Play Space
- Design: Create a play area with calming colors and gentle lighting, using a tent or canopy to create a quiet space.
- Props: Include quiet activities like puzzles, a small sand tray, building blocks, and a basket of coloring materials with mandala coloring pages.
- Purpose: Engage students in calm, focused play that allows them to reset before rejoining the class.
Each of these calm-down areas can help young students manage their emotions and build self-regulation skills in a supportive and soothing environment.
Sensory Calming Toys for Kids
Looking for some sensory toys to add to your calm down area? My students absolutely LOVE these. I will be listing the ones I seem to think kids love the most. The best thing about these sensory toys is that special needs and mainstream kids will benefit from them immensely.
A value pack of sensory toy supplies like squishy balls, tubes, squeeze pets and more. Grab this discounted bundle right here on Amazon.
If you’re looking to incorporate tubes into your area, add this bundle of tubes to your corner along with fun sensory toys.
My Absolute GAME CHANGER sensory toys to add to a calm down area and without question, the most useful and appealing sensory toy is the pop it toy. My absolute favourites are these multi shapes food pop its, and the alphabet and number ones for literacy and math activities.
Have you used sensory bottles for your calm down areas? Kids love these bottles! You can add anything inside these to practice multiple skills. If you don’t want to make them, you could buy a set from Amazon. I love this shaped set of sensory bottles.
Another superb calm down area which would suit older students too, have them identify how they are feeling, then choosing an activity to suit:
More Calm Down Area in Classroom ideas from other bloggers
When it comes to calm down areas, there are simply MANY ideas we can incorporate into our classroom and even our homes. The most important thing to note is the fact that you are already here looking for ideas to support your students. This by itself makes you an awesome teacher and parents!
Check out what Nikki outlined in her super helpful post on the benefits of having a calm down corner. Check out her article at this link here or click on the image below to see it!
Looking for specific ideas on how to create a calming corner? Jennifer from Endeavours in Education did it so well! She outlines when to create one, how to use one and why it is so important, especially now during the pandemic.
Click on the blog button below to head to the next blog to check out some more awesome calm down ideas for the classroom!
Ready to grab your set of feelings posters for your students? The best way I like to use these is hanging them onto a wall and having the kids read the prompts, identify what they are feeling, then choosing an activity to help them calm down.
Monster Moods 33 Emotions Coloring Book
Need a fun way to teach kids about feelings? This Monster Moods Coloring Book is packed with 33 playful pages that help little ones explore big emotions—one monster at a time! From happy to worried to downright grumpy, these quirky creatures make it easy (and super fun) to talk about feelings while coloring. Grab your crayons and check it out!
How to Use This Monster Moods Book
So, how do you actually use this emotions coloring book in a meaningful way? Here are some easy ideas that teachers, parents, and even therapists will love:
- Start with a Feeling Check-In
Ask your kiddos, “How are you feeling today?” Then let them flip through the pages and pick the monster that matches their mood. It’s an instant mood check-in without the awkwardness! - Color + Chat Time
While they color, talk about that feeling.
→ “What makes you feel nervous like this monster?”
→ “What can we do when we feel angry?”
This opens up space for calm, judgment-free conversations. - Build a Feelings Journal
Staple the finished pages together into an “All About My Feelings” booklet. They’ll love seeing how many emotions they’ve explored—and it makes a super sweet keepsake. - Add to Your Calm Down Corner
Keep a few copies in your quiet space. When a child needs a break, hand them a page. Coloring helps soothe big feelings and gives them a way to process emotions without having to talk right away. - Pair It with Story Time
Match pages with your favorite SEL books. Reading The Color Monster or Glad Monster, Sad Monster? Hand out the related emotion page to reinforce the theme in a hands-on way.
Ready to dive in? Grab your copy of the Monster Moods Coloring Book and bring these silly, expressive creatures to life—one feeling at a time. 💥
👉 See what all the monster fuss is about here!
Ever wish your kiddo had a better way to express their feelings (besides the occasional meltdown)? Enter: the Monster Moods coloring book. With 33 silly monster pages that each show a different emotion, it’s a creative and calming way to start conversations about feelings—while they color!
