Parents can create Calm Kits for children and youth to use when they are anxious or dis-regulated. Calm Kits are toolboxes for self-regulation and de-escalation. They should be age-appropriate and contain sensory support items that are appealing to the child or youth. Calm Kits should be used independently and should not include screens. Here are some of our ideas:

For 0-5:

• Plush toys
• Teething/oral sensory toys/devices
• Block crayons, paper, play-doh, re-usable sticker books
• Plush toys
• Sensory board books, or board book stories about emotions, feelings, breathing, relaxing, or calming down
• Pinwheels
• Printed age-appropriate visuals

For 5-12:

• Art supplies (scratch art, drawing kits, coloring books)
• Fidget and pop-it toys
• Journaling supplies
• Legos or other building supplies/kits
• Bubbles
• Chewing gum, water bottle with chewable straw, or other oral sensory toy
• Yoga instructions/visual
• Plush toys
• Scented play-doh or other scented items (lip or skin balm)
• Noise cancelling headphones
• Printed age-appropriate visuals

For 13 – Adult:

• Essential oil roll-ons
• Journaling supplies
• Adult coloring books
• Crossword, Sudoku or puzzles
• Mini zen/sand gardens
• Noise cancelling headphones
• Poem, prayer or inspirational saying
• Tea bags
• Printed age-appropriate visuals

Parents should make a Calm Kit for themselves and model how to use it to self-regulate/de-escalate.