My son needs a lot of help self-regulating some days so we are constantly introducing him to new calm down techniques.
We already make use of our visual calm down cards and the various DIY sensory hacks that I have made for him, but we still haven't pinpointed the exact sensory calming strategies that work best for him on a regular basis. Some days certain calm down strategies work, but fail to help the next day.
Thankfully this list of 100 calming strategies for kids is massive, so we certainly have lots of strategies left to try!
100 Simple Calm Down Strategies
This list of calm down techniques for kids covers a wide range of sensory inputs, from oral motor to proprioceptive.
So whether you kid finds chewing calming or being squished calming, there is something for everyone on this list! This list of ideas is perfect for home or school. No need to wonder how to calm down a kid when you have this huge list of sensory calming strategies for children handy!
1. Blow bubbles
2. Chew gum
3. Chew on a chewy toy, necklace, or bracelet (see: DIY Chewelry Ideas & Best Chew Necklaces for Kids)
4. Complete a puzzle
5. Use a fidget
6. Use a weighted lap cushion or weighted stuffed animal (see: 13 DIY Weighted Blanket Tutorials)
7. Wear a weighted vest or pressure vest (see: 10 DIY Weighted Vest Tutorials)
8. Stretch and fidget with a stretchy resistance band (see: Homemade Stretchy Resistance Bands Tutorial)
9. Crawl through a sensory tunnel (see: Homemade Sensory Tunnel)
10. Wear noise reducing ear muffs
11. Suck on hard candies
12. Diffuse essential oils such as lavender
13. Use Rescue Remedy spray
14. Listen to music
15. Listen to audiobooks
16. Do some yoga
17. Lay or bounce on a ball
18. Sing the ABCs forwards or backwards
19. Build with blocks or LEGO
20. Go for a run
21. Swing (see: Homemade Sensory Swings)
22. Pet a cat or dog
23. Draw with chalk
24. Go for a walk
25. Go to a quiet place
26. Paint a picture
27. Do a maze, dot to dot, or word search
28. Read a book
29. Count slowly forwards or backwards
30. Ask for a hug
31. Take a drink of water
32. Wrap up in a blanket (weighted or not)
33. Invert head or hang upside down
34. Close your eyes
35. Hum or sing a song
36. Do some deep breathing
37. Go for a bike ride
38. Draw a picture
39. Play hopscotch (mix it up with Rocket Hopscotch)
40. Jump on a trampoline (try one of these Trampoline Games)
41. Climb a tree
42. Play an instrument and make music
43. Do a heavy work activity (see: 50 Heavy Work Activities for Kids)
44. Use a calm down bottle
45. Do animal walks
46. Dance
47. Skip
48. Do a cartwheel
49. Take a bubble bath
50. Drink a smoothie through a straw
51. Make silly faces in a mirror
52. Drink a warm beverage
53. Look at an hourglass, lava lamp, or aquarium
54. Rip tissue paper (see: Tissue Paper Sensory Bin)
55. Bend and twist pipe cleaners
56. Have a snack
57. Pop bubble wrap
58. Play with play dough, slime, or silly putty
59. Look at a photo album
60. Blow a pinwheel
61. Squeeze a stress ball (see: DIY Pokemon Stress Balls)
62. Tightly hug or squeeze a pillow or toy
63. Wear an eye mask
64. Listen to nature sounds
65. Spin a top
66. Use a mini massager
67. Climb into a body sock
68. Make a craft
69. Play a one player board game (we love Rush Hour for this!)
70. Rub some scented lotion on
71. Wear sunglasses
72. Light a scented candle
73. Journal
74. Color a picture in a coloring book
75. Play with shadow puppets
76. Blow a feather
77. Blow a pom pom around using a straw
78. Take a bath with Epsom salts
79. Ask for a break
80. Push against a wall
81. Play with a sensory bin (lots of sensory bin ideas here)
82. Crash into a crash pad (see: DIY No Sew Crash Mat Tutorial)
83. Take a shower
84. Suck on ice
85. Do some joint compressions
86. Brush hair and/or skin
87. Blow bubbles in a cup of water
88. Smell scratch and sniff stickers
89. Turn off the lights
90. Read with a flashlight
91. Play I spy (check out our massive collection of I Spy Printables)
92. Braid your hair
93. Climb a ladder or rock wall
94. Use positive affirmations
95. Hug someone
96. Doodle on paper, whiteboard, or similar
97. Use visual calm down cards or posters (see: Free Printable Visual Calm Down Cards)
98. Stretch
99. Play with a pet
100. Trace your hands with your finger
Download the Free Printable List of Calming Strategies
