When I first created a calm-down corner, I added everything I thought a child would need to calm themselves: a soft rug, a few stuffies and fidgets, a “calm” book, and pillows to lay on. Who doesn’t love books, toys, fidgets, or fluffy Squishmallows when they’re sad, tired, or upset? Believe it or not, a teacher trying to run a classroom, and a dysregulated child.
Next Steps
Here’s what happens after you create that sweet little space for reflection and relief with the things listed above:
An upset child will rub their teary eyes and runny nose all over the stuffies. Unless you want to do laundry daily, save the stuffies as an occasional prize for work well done.
Children will ask to go to the calm-down corner even if they don’t need to calm down. They might even pretend they need to calm down, making it hard to know if they are truly upset, needing a break, or just looking to play. Making the distinction is important.
Once a child goes into the calm-down corner and is able to regulate, they get quiet. So quiet, sometimes, that you lose track of them while teaching. Half an hour later, the rest of the class has learned XYZ, and Cindy Lou has missed all of your instruction.
A sad child makes their way to the corner, picks up the calming book, and falls asleep, making it occupied and unusable until they wake up (yes, I let my kids sleep).
What to Do Instead
Place a visual 3-minute timer at their eye level and teach them how to use it. Once the timer is up, they should return to their previous activity.
Make it comfortable. A soft covering on the floor is great. We used a couple of hard pillows that came from someone’s couch. Some wall visuals with reminders of breathing techniques are helpful. But that’s it.
If a child falls asleep, document it. If it happens again the next day and the day after, document each instance and contact student services. After the second day, inform the child’s guardians.
If students are still not regulated after three minutes, let them request another three. If a child remains upset after six minutes, they probably need a walk, a break, or one-on-one support. Provide it for them.
Classrooms are bustling and sometimes noisy environments. It’s a teacher’s job to manage students within this learning setting. Kids who struggle to regulate their emotions can disrupt the entire class’s learning process, but a calm down corner is the solution to creating order, and safety in your room.
Ms. Martha
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