Why Does Your Child Need a Calm-Down Space?

The brain systems that underlie self-regulation abilities are developing across all of childhood and into the teenage years as well. 

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Why Does Your Child Need a Calm-Down Space?

While your teen probably won’t use that same calm-down space, they will use those foundational skills they learned there.

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Why Does Your Child Need a Calm-Down Space?

Emotions are abstract and hard to understand for children. Even as adults, we struggle to put words to our emotions and authentically express them.

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Why Does Your Child Need a Calm-Down Space?

Putting together a physical calm-down space helps make abstract emotions something more concrete — something they can see and name.

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Why does my child need a calm-down space?

Visual cues with names of emotions and images of emotions can help children orient themselves in what can feel like a storm inside their bodies. 

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The Mindful Emotions Toolkit: Handle Tantrums and Meltdowns With Love

Think of the calm-down space as a port in the storm — a place to literally hold space for your child’s emotions — not just in your home, but also in your heart.

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How To Create a Mindful Feeling Space: What Should You Include?

Tools to help identify emotions: posters, cards, stuffies with emotion faces, books.

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How To Create a Mindful Feeling Space: What Should You Include?

Tools to help children regulate their emotions: A pinwheel to encourage deep breathing, sensory items like putty, stuffie for belly breathing, favorite books, favorite music, fluffy chair, or blanket.

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