Page 67 - How Changing Your Anger Can Help You Be a Better Parent book

Help Your Child Build a Calm Zone

A Calm Down Zone is a place where your child can go when he/she starts to feel frustrated or
angry. It can be filled with fidgets, stuffed animals, toys, games, puzzles or activities that can help
your child calm down and cope with their anger in a healthy way.

Use this worksheet to create your child’s very own Calm Down Zone!

First, have your child create a cool name for the Calm Down Zone. By naming the area, your child
will have a whole different respect and commitment to the self-regulation process when they
become upset.

Then have your child choose the location of the Calm Down Zone. You can provide acceptable
choices for the location and ultimately allow them to choose where to build it.

Now you can have your child choose what to include in the Calm Down Zone. Any fidgets, stuffed
animals, favorite blanket or clothes, toys, game, puzzles or activities that your child finds calming.
You want to have your child avoid including things that may increase stress or frustration and
allow things that help keep them calm.

Finally, you can discuss with your child how he/she will know when to go there. You can talk to
them about feeling changes in their bodies like feeling their face get hot or their hands sweat.
When your child feels his/her body sensations change, they know it’s time to go to the Calm Down
Zone.

As your child matures, you can also talk about expanding their emotional vocabulary to help
identify emotions.

Create a Calm Down Sensory Jar

Watch young children using the Calm Down Sensory Jar (as seen on Oprah and the Today
Show)

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