2018 Update: See a newer version of my calming toolboxes here!
A note: Hey guys! One of the posts here I get the most questions on is my post of the classroom (really, school wide!!) Calming Down Boxes I created 2 years ago, so I wanted to share it again today, with some updates and tips at the end (also, my beloved Office Playground online store closed down, so I updated some links as well. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Enjoy!
This past year, my focus and goal throughout the year was our school climate program. I really tried to put a lot into getting it going, and getting the entire school involved.
I really wanted our program to be a positive one, focusing on recognizing the positive that students were doing, and teaching appropriate coping skills. Teaching 400+ kiddos coping skills is no joke though. We had lots of assemblies to celebrate their work and teach them some, but we wanted something for them to be using everyday.
Throughout the few years teaching kids, I began to collect lots of Calming Down Tools that I kept in my office. They were things from the dollar bin at target, some I ordered online, and some we had crafted in group. Throughout the years, I began to notice that my supply quickly dissipated because I was always giving them out to teachers and kiddos in need.
I was happy to do it, and found it was easy to find lots of ideas for different “kit” ideas through Pinterest and Google. I started to notice, however, that after a few months of having these boxes in the classroom, that students other than my own were utilizing them just as much.
I had an idea to make a calming box for each classroom, but quickly realized this was a pretty large expense. Luckily, I applied and was approved for a grant to create one for every classroom. Soon, I had turned the conference room into this:
After assembling each of the boxes, I handed them out to teachers and explained what they were. At a school climate assembly, I introduced them to the kiddos and had students demonstrate how to use each one. I’m happy with the end result! Even if some of the teachers might not buy into it, I like that all of my students have the opportunity to practice appropriate coping skills any time. I made sure to make one for not only the classroom teachers, but specialists (everyone fro the reading teacher to the music teacher), got one.
So, what makes a calming down box? I think just a wide variety of tools is helpful, but here is what I included in mine:
- A 2-minute sand timer: I figured 2 minutes was an appropriate time to spend in the calming down spot.
- Klixx fidget or wooden puzzle fidgets : I love these things. They are my go-to “fidget item”!
- Earth Stress Ball & A Puffer Squeeze Ball: Kids LOVE the puffer ones and they are always at the $ bin at Target. I replace them regularly because they get used so much!
- Plastic Pinwheels: These help kids to practice their deep breathing for calming down
- A piece of paper and pencil or crayons for students to “draw it out”
- A laminated sheet that gives a quick overview of all of the tools (see my free one here)
- I put everything together in these plastic shoeboxes.
The process of planning these out and putting them together took months, but I’m happy that each room in the school has one to use now and my kiddos can practice their coping skills all day long!
A few (updated) notes:
- Funding: I applied for a grant for these boxes through the Special Education PTA in my district. I typed up a written proposal, and it helped that I had one already created that was in use. To replenish supplies throughout the years, I have used both some of my own funds, and also some that I’ve gotten from school. The cost for doing them school wide (around $250 for just under 40 boxes, with lots of discounts for buying in bulk).
- I’ve made some additions, depending on what works. I always keep on of my beloved Calming Down Glitter Bottles in here, and look for fun new updates on fidgets and stress relievers (the lego is my favorite)
- I also keep a plastic box of Kinetic Sand with this calming tools box. I don’t think this would be the most effective for the classroom, but for small offices and rooms, kids love it!
What do you have in your calming down toolkit?
Thank you so much for ch for this information! As of this week I have been looking for a positive change in my preschool classroom. Today I actually just bought some items to make fidgety hand tools for children during large group time. But, I love the fact that you have a place to hold these items.
That’s great. Good luck! I’d love to hear what works for the younger ones!
Do you still have the laminated sheet you referenced above? I didn’t see it on your teachers pay teachers site.
I was just updating it-the clipart and images I had used were not up to date. Here is the new version 🙂
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/My-Cool-Down-Spot-Choices-4311630