A Guide to Creating a Calming Corner

We all know that wrangling the emotions of our younger kids can sometimes feel like herding cats. From giggles to tantrums, they keep us on our toes! But we've got a secret weapon in our parenting arsenal: the calm down corner. These corners can help create a cozy corner that'll be your kiddo's go-to spot when they need a breather while also helping you know what to do to teach them the skills to regulate their emotions.

Here's how you set one up:

1. Picking the Perfect Spot:

   • Find a quiet nook in your home where your little one can chill out without distractions.
   • Think comfy, not cramped! Add pillows, blankets, and maybe even a snuggly bean bag chair.

2. Setting the Scene:

   • Add some extra calming vibes with soft lighting, comfy items, or a sensory bottle filled with glitter and water.
   • As a bonus you can add some cute stuffed animals or calming artwork to make the corner extra inviting.

3. Mindful Moments:

   • Teach your kiddo simple mindfulness tricks like deep breaths or easy yoga poses.
   • Keep visual aids like emotion cards or a feelings chart handy to help them put their feelings into words.

4. Cool Calming Activities:

   • Stock up on stuff your kiddo loves, like colouring books, puzzles, or sensory bins filled with calming items.
   • Don't forget a stash of books about feelings and mindfulness—they're like little wisdom nuggets!

5. Laying Down the Law (Kinda):

   • Make sure your kiddo knows the calm down corner is their safe space, not a timeout zone.
   • Practice makes perfect! Encourage them to hang out there when they're feeling chill so they're comfy using it when emotions run high.

6. Lead by Example:

   • Show them how it's done by practicing your own calming tricks, like deep breaths or positive self-talk.
   • High fives all around when they use the calm down corner like a champ!

Bonus Tip: Looking for a cool toolkit to kickstart your calm down corner journey? Check out the Time-In Toolkit from Generation Mindful here. It's like a treasure chest of tools to help your kiddo navigate their big feelings like a pro and it's my favourite resource I've used with all my kids!

By creating a cozy corner for your child, you're giving them the gift of emotional resilience. With a little zen space of their own, they'll learn to ride the waves of their emotions. So here's to fewer meltdowns and more moments of calm for the whole family!