How to Create a “Calm Corner” in Your Home

In every Playgarden classroom, a calm corner, or “the cozy corner,” can be found — typically consisting of a soft rug, comfy pillows, and a few books to peruse. Students know this is a place that is always available to them when they need a quiet space. A calm corner offers little ones a place to go when they get overwhelmed, experience big feelings, or when they just need a bit of space to themselves. 

Here are some essentials and suggestions to build your own Calm Corner at home:

Pillows, Carpets, and Rugs

There’s a reason the students at Playgarden call it “the cozy corner”; comfort is essential. A soft place to sit is always comforting — especially when experiencing sensory overload. Situate your calm corner in a spot with carpet, or a place you can lay a rug or two. All sizes of pillows are welcome: big bean bags, stuffed animals, throw pillows. Not only do they provide something to snuggle or squeeze, but if your little one has some energy they need to relieve, a pillow is a safe punching bag. 

Books and Fidget Toys

You know the books that your little one loves to read over and over again? Place a copy of those books in your calm corner. Being able to see a book they know and find comfort in can be extremely helpful with calming down, and in their social emotional development in general. If they need something a bit more tactile, fidget toys are a great addition as well. Not only do they help ease anxiety and heightened emotions, they also help children exercise their fine motor skills.

Decor

On the walls of your calm corner, an emotions chart and list of affirmations can be helpful social emotional development tools for your little one to explore. It can be frustrating when your little one is upset and you both have no idea why. An emotions chart gives you and your little one the chance to start identifying how they are feeling. It may take a bit of time for your little one to start pointing to an emotion on the chart, but if you do it with them whenever they go to the calm corner, they may begin to point to how they feel and ask how you are feeling.

Introducing a calm corner in your home is beneficial to your little one’s social emotional development, as well as their overall mental health. When little ones know how to take care of their minds and bodies when they feel overwhelmed, they build awareness and pick up self-care tools as they grow.