Calm Down Kit Ideas to Help Kids Manage Big Emotions | Free Printable

 Big emotions run high in my house. Because of this, I have spent a lot of time learning about emotional and self-regulation. One of the greatest ways to help kids calm down is with a Calm Down Kit or Mad Box.

More on emotional regulation and a Calm Down Poster for your fridge: 18 Ways To Help Your Child Calm Down

We love our Calm Down Kit! It can also be referred to as an “Anger Box”, “Mad Box”, “SOS” kit, or whatever your kids want to call it.

I am a firm believer in getting our kids to take ownership in all they do. They gain critical thinking skills and are more invested when they have a say. This includes helping your kid help himself handle big emotions.

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Creating a Calm Down Kit

Using the items we had around the house and Dollar Tree, this is what my six-year-old included in his Mad Box:

1. The Box

He picked a shoebox we had from buying his school shoes a few months ago. It had logos on the outside so he decorated it with large Lego stickers.

Decorating the box can also aid in helping a child calm down or engage his or her creativity.

As he was carefully placing the stickers, he made up a story about what each character was doing to the other. The dialog was quite creative. The best part is the story continues every time he picks up the box.

2. Bubbles

Using bubbles is one of my favorite ways to get kids to breathe. Long exhales have the most incredible calming effect.

As each bubble is blown, the child can focus her attention on the pretty colors or shape of the bubble and work on that breathing.

3. Calm Down Jar

Together, we created this very simple Calm Down Glitter Jar. When all the glitter settles, he likes to flip it upside down to watch the clumps of glitter slowly fall down to the bottom.

4. Paper 

I loooooove paper! Paper is my secret weapon to help my kids calm down. Here are the multiple ways paper can be used to  help a child get rid of his or her big emotions:

Create and Build

My oldest has loved building with paper since he was three! He has created objects like semitrailers (with moveable parts!), bomb bots, cranes, cameras, microphones, planes, and origami. Something magical happens in his brain when he begins to create with paper. It’s as if he becomes a totally different kid.

I am still trying to find the secret sauce that makes him go from angry, not very kind mode to happy sweetest-kid-in-the-entire mode and so far, paper comes close!

Smash 

If your child is really angry, have her crumple it up and smash or stomp on it. Smashing it releases aggression in a very safe way.

Tear 

Tearing the paper up into tiny little pieces really calms my middle child. It’s as if the anger slowly seeps out with each and every rip.

Color or Draw

Use the paper to draw out feelings or color a picture. The drawing doesn’t even need to represent anything. Your child can scribble to his heart’s content as the big emotions slowly dissipate.

One time my oldest drew the way he felt about his brother by creating a picture with a boy whose head was on fire. His drawing made him laugh which helped him forget why he was mad in the first place.

Cut

The sensation of having scissors cut through paper can be calming. Also, the child needs to concentrate more which is a great way to stabilize his or her mood.

Glue or Tape 

Let your child get as creative as she wants. These can be used to wrap the paper, create pictures, glue pieces together, glue other craft pieces to the paper and whatever else your child comes up with.

The point is paper can be an open door to a world of imagination.

5. Craft Items

You can get creative with this by adding anything from paint to feathers. My son put some fuzzy balls, pipe cleaners, colored wood sticks, crayons and glue in his box.

6. Stress Ball

Throw in anything your child can squeeze to get that aggression in the hands out.

7. Playdough

Playdough is another great way to create a picture to represent feelings. It can also be used as a sensory outlet. Your child can rub it in between his or hands, smash it, stretch it, or stick it on her face.

8. Stones and Coins

We happened to have a bunch of little stones and fake coins from a neighborhood event. Items like this engage many senses such as hearing, touch, and sight.

Creating Your Own Mad Box

The contents of a calm down kit for your child will be specific to him or her. Let them pick what they think will work and encourage them to swap out items occasionally.

The Whole Calm Down Toolkit has 18 different calming strategies, step-by-step instructions for your child to create his or her own calm down (or mad) box and a list of 40+ ideas to put in the box. Fill out the form below:

If you only want the list of Calm Down Box items, Click here to download.

What Is In Your Calm Down Kit?

I would love to hear what is in your calming toolbox. Or if you have any questions about anything above, please comment below.