Soothing Supplies for Your Classroom Calm-Down Corner

Calm down corners are designated classroom spaces where dysregulated and overstimulated kids can go to retreat and reset. Some are elaborate spaces featuring dim lighting, soothing colors, and comfy furniture. Others are simply a bin of fidget toys. Either way, find inspiration for your classroom oasis in this list of regulating tools, toys, and décor items from the ADDitude editors.

$6.99

Ask a student how they’re feeling, and they’ll likely answer “good” or “bad,” which is only so helpful. Most students lack the emotional vocabulary to define and articulate their feelings in greater detail. A Feelings Wheel, like this wood-crafted one, can help. The double-sided wheel features a spectrum of emotions ranging from “anger” and “fear” to “astonished” and “inferior” on one side and a list of “Things I Can Control” and “Things I Cannot Control” on the other side. Measuring approximately 6 inches in diameter, the wheel can live on a teacher’s desk or in a calm-down corner, where students can easily access it.

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Related Resource: 6 Ways to Develop Emotional Control at School

$9.99

Imploring a child to “calm down” during an outburst is seldom productive. Instead, the trick is teaching students how to manage their emotional triggers before they become dysregulated. These mindfulness stickers – placed on class desks, water bottles, or laptops – can help by gently reminding students how to settle down.

This pack of 36 mindfulness stickers comes in 12 different patterns with instructions for breathwork techniques, such as box breathing, star breathing, “8-cycle” breathing, and tips to unwind. The stickers display a warm, neutral color palette and two textures (river rocks or patterned pebbles), offering students visual and tactile stimulation to self-soothe.

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Related Resource: 10 Easy Mindfulness Exercises for Kids with ADHD

$10.49

Equal parts calming and captivating, this set of 12 black-and-white sensory cards can help a student who needs to pause and self-regulate. To use, drag the motion sliders across the cards right or left (or twist!) to create moving patterns. Students can manipulate the visual illusions by altering their swipe’s speed, direction, or angle. The cards teach cause-and-effect and perspective, and they encourage focus, patience, and creativity. Constructed out of durable plastic, the cards won’t bend or crease, and remain safe in their accompanying storage box.

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$15.95

A sensory wall covered in visual and tactile stimulation helps students channel their emotions. Hang these large swatches of green-and-silver, and blue-and-silver sequin fabric on your sensory wall; they are large enough for multiple students to use simultaneously. The fabric’s eye-popping appeal will keep students engaged and focused.

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Webinar Replay: “Proactive and Reactive Strategies for Managing Students' Emotional Dysregulation in Class"

$16.99

Fidgety fingers will find relief with this five-pack set of marble mazes. The soft plush mazes come in two sizes and feature five different patterns, routes, and difficulty levels. The marble mazes can also be used to comfort an anxious student, provide sensory stimulation, or promote relaxation and focus. Also, the marble mazes are quiet enough not to disturb the rest of the class.

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Related Resource: How Fidgets Improve Student Behavior and Focus

$19.99

This set of eight, 11x17-inch laminated posters includes illustrations with instructions for the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique, a mood thermometer, an emotion chart, and positive sayings to boost a student’s mood and self-esteem. The posters’ muted, soft colors give off a relaxing, soothing vibe and, hung together, they create a cohesive look for your classroom’s calming corner.

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Webinar Replay: "Social Emotional Learning Techniques for Students with ADHD"

$29.95

The Time Timer Plus 5-minute visual timer can help students regulate their emotions or transitions from tasks or activities. The 5.5 x 7-inch visual timer features a colored disk that disappears as time elapses, replicating the movement of an analog clock. This makes it easy for students to see how much time remains. To activate, students or teachers turn the center knob counterclockwise. Users can enable or silence the alarm, and carry the lightweight timer around the classroom as needed.

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Webinar Replay: "Beat the Clock: Time Estimation and Management Help for Students with ADHD"

$35.99

Big emotions can overwhelm students who lack the vocabulary to name their feelings. This set of six emotion hand puppets can help. The puppet’s bright colors, textured hair, crinkle sounds, and exaggerated facial features turn the work of expressing and regulating emotions into a fun, interactive experience. Students can engage the puppets for role-playing and class puppet shows. Teachers can use them during one-on-one conversations, group activities, and storytelling. The hand puppet set also includes activity cards with prompts and ideas, such as “Fill in the Feelings” and “Emotion Role Play,” to further enhance social-emotional learning in the classroom.

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Related Resource: SEL Program Comparison Tool