Setting Up A Calm-Down Corner For Children With Autism

Creating a Calming Space

When it comes to supporting children with autism, creating a calming space can make a significant difference in their well-being and emotional regulation. A designated area, often known as a calm-down corner, provides a safe and soothing environment for children to self-regulate and manage their emotions effectively. Let's explore the benefits of a calm down corner and how to set one up.

Benefits of a Calm Down Corner

Setting up a calm-down corner in the home or classroom offers several benefits for children with autism. Here are a few key advantages:

Self-Regulation: A calm down corner provides children with a dedicated space where they can practice self-regulation skills and learn to manage their emotions [1]. It allows them to take a break from overwhelming stimuli and engage in calming activities that help them regain control.
Safety and Comfort: For individuals on the autism spectrum, having a designated area to calm down can help maintain safety during moments of crisis. This space serves as a refuge where they can feel secure and find solace in times of distress.
Sensory Considerations: Individuals with autism are often hypersensitive to their sensory surroundings. A calm down corner can be designed to cater to their sensory preferences, offering a calm, clean, and soothing environment that minimizes overstimulation and sensory overload. By controlling sensory input, the space allows children to better regulate their responses.

Setting Up a Calm Down Corner

When setting up a calm down corner, it's important to create an environment that promotes relaxation and emotional well-being. Consider the following tips:

Define the Space: Clearly designate the area as a calm down corner by labeling it and ensuring that it is solely used for calming down. This helps children understand its purpose and reinforces the idea that it is a safe space for them to find peace.
Create a Calm Atmosphere: Make the area conducive to relaxation by incorporating soft blankets, beanbag chairs, and noise-canceling headphones to create a quiet and safe space [1]. Consider using dim lighting or natural light to create a soothing ambiance.
Include Calming Tools: Stock the calm down corner with tools and activities that help children self-regulate. This may include stress balls, fidget spinners, sensory bottles, or coloring materials. These items can engage the senses and provide a calming effect.

Remember, each child is unique, so it's important to personalize the calm down corner to their specific needs and preferences. Regularly evaluate and modify the space based on their feedback and evolving requirements. By creating a designated area for calming, you offer children with autism a supportive environment where they can find solace and develop essential self-regulation skills.

Designing a Calm Down Corner

When creating a calm down corner for children with autism, it's important to consider sensory considerations and include essential items that can promote relaxation and self-regulation.

Sensory Considerations

Individuals on the autism spectrum are often hyper-sensitive to their sensory surroundings. They are typically most comfortable in a calm, clean, non-toxic, and soothing environment that caters to their preferences. Overstimulation and clutter can be disarming and upsetting for someone on the spectrum, leading to sensory overload [3].

To create a sensory-friendly calm down corner, consider the following:

Sound: Individuals with autism are often hypersensitive to sounds. Providing sound insulation and allowing for manipulation of sound pressure levels can be helpful. Pink noise, such as rustling leaves, steady rain, and wind, is calming and soothing for individuals with autism, while white noise can be disturbing and stimulating.
Orderliness: Spaces that are orderly and defined are easier and more inviting for the autistic mind to process. Minimal furniture, storage for non-essential items, and objects that can be reconfigured and function as dividers are ideal for maintaining focus in the space. Consider creating areas for focus, calming, and play/exploration within the space.

Essential Items for the Space

When setting up a calm down corner, it's important to include essential items that can help promote relaxation and self-regulation for children with autism. Here are some common items to consider:

Essential Items

Crash pad
Weighted blanket or weighted stuffed animal
Calming choice chart
Mindfulness posters or deep breathing exercises
Variety of fidgets or soft toys
Pressure-activated massage pillow
Relaxing music or noise reduction headphones
Calming visual items like an ooze tube, jellyfish lamp, or sand panel

Including cozy and cuddly items like blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, and weighted blankets or pillows in the calm down corner can provide tactile input, light touch, deep pressure, and comfort, which are calming for children, especially those with sensory difficulties [4]. Additionally, visual prompts and calming visual items can help create a soothing atmosphere and aid in self-regulation.

Remember that every child is unique, so it's important to personalize the calm down corner based on their individual preferences and needs. By creating a sensory-friendly space and incorporating essential items, you can provide a calming environment where children with autism can find comfort and tranquility.

Techniques for Calming

When it comes to creating a calm-down corner for children with autism, incorporating effective calming techniques is essential. These techniques can help children regulate their emotions and find a sense of peace and tranquility. Two common techniques that can be beneficial in a calm-down corner are deep breathing exercises and sensory activities.

Deep Breathing Exercises

Deep breathing exercises are a simple yet powerful technique for promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety. Encouraging children to take slow, deep breaths can help calm their nervous system and bring a sense of calm. Here's a step-by-step guide for deep breathing exercises:

Sit or stand comfortably: Find a comfortable position, either sitting or standing, where the child feels relaxed and at ease.
Take a deep breath in: Instruct the child to take a slow, deep breath in through their nose, filling their lungs with air. Encourage them to focus on filling up their belly as they inhale.
Hold the breath: Ask the child to hold their breath for a few seconds, allowing the oxygen to circulate throughout their body.
Exhale slowly: Guide the child to exhale slowly through their mouth, releasing any tension or stress with each breath.
Repeat: Encourage the child to repeat this deep breathing exercise several times, focusing on the rhythm of their breath and allowing their body to relax with each exhalation.

Deep breathing exercises can be particularly effective when combined with visual supports, such as visual cue cards or a calm-down chart, to help children understand and remember the steps involved. This technique can empower children to self-regulate their emotions and find a sense of calmness during challenging moments.

Sensory Activities

Sensory activities can provide children with autism a way to engage their senses and find comfort in their environment. These activities can help redirect their attention, reduce anxiety, and promote relaxation. Some sensory activities that can be incorporated into a calm-down corner include:

Squeezing stress balls or using fidget toys: These tactile activities can provide a sensory outlet and help children release tension or anxiety.
Engaging with sensory bins: Creating a sensory bin filled with materials like sand, rice, or water can provide a calming and engaging sensory experience for children.
Using weighted blankets or lap pads: The deep pressure provided by weighted blankets or lap pads can offer a sense of security and help children feel grounded.
Listening to calming music or sounds: Playing soft, soothing music or nature sounds can create a calming atmosphere and promote relaxation.
Engaging in visual stimulation: Providing visual stimulation through items like lava lamps, bubble tubes, or calming visual displays can help children focus their attention and find a sense of calm.

By incorporating sensory activities into the calm-down corner, children can explore different sensory experiences and find strategies that work best for them. It's important to observe and understand each child's preferences and sensitivities, ensuring that the sensory activities provided are appropriate and soothing for them.

Remember, every child is unique, and what works for one child may not work for another. It's important to create a calm-down corner that is tailored to the specific needs and preferences of the child with autism. By incorporating techniques like deep breathing exercises and sensory activities, you can provide a supportive and calming environment for children to regulate their emotions and find peace.

Supporting Self-Regulation

When it comes to creating a calm-down corner for children with autism, supporting self-regulation is a key aspect. By providing visual supports and implementing co-regulation strategies, parents and caregivers can help children develop the skills needed to regulate their emotions and behaviors effectively.

Visual Supports

Visual supports play a crucial role in helping children with autism build predictable routines and transition from co-regulation to self-regulation over time. These supports make routines more "automatic" for children, aiding in their ability to calm down. It is recommended to practice these routines when the child is calm and regulated, ensuring they can be accessed more easily in moments of distress.

Visual supports can include visual schedules, social stories, and visual cues that provide clear and concrete information about expectations and steps to follow. These supports help children understand what is happening and what is expected of them, reducing anxiety and promoting self-regulation. For example, a visual schedule can outline the steps to take when feeling overwhelmed, such as taking deep breaths, engaging in a calming activity, or seeking a quiet space.

Co-Regulation Strategies

Co-regulation techniques are particularly useful for young children with autism, especially those who may find self-regulation challenging. By using a calming kit with visual tools, parents and caregivers can help children learn to regulate their emotions and behaviors. Co-regulation strategies, such as blowing activities and deep breathing exercises, can support children in developing self-regulation skills over time [5].

Calming kits are recommended for use both in special education classrooms and at home. These kits typically include a variety of visual tools and strategies that promote self-regulation. They help create a supportive environment for children to learn and practice self-regulation techniques. Some examples of items that can be included in a calming kit are sensory toys, stress balls, visual timers, and emotion cards. These tools can assist children in identifying and managing their emotions, leading to increased self-regulation.

By utilizing visual supports and implementing co-regulation strategies, parents and caregivers can provide valuable support to children with autism in their journey towards self-regulation. It's important to remember that meltdowns in students with autism are involuntary and not a choice. By recognizing early signs of overwhelm and providing the necessary tools and strategies, we can create a calming environment that fosters self-regulation and emotional well-being.

Using Calming Kits

Implementing a calming kit can be a beneficial strategy for parents and educators working with children and teens with autism. Calming kits are designed to provide a variety of visual tools and strategies for self-regulation, helping children with autism manage their emotions and behaviors effectively. These kits are recommended for use in special education classrooms and at home to create a supportive environment for children to learn and practice self-regulation techniques [5].

Components of a Calming Kit

A well-equipped calming kit typically includes various items that cater to the sensory needs and preferences of children with autism. The components of a calming kit may vary depending on the individual, but here are some commonly included items:

Visual supports: Visual supports play a crucial role in helping children with autism build predictable routines and transition from co-regulation to self-regulation. These supports can include visual schedules, social stories, and visual cue cards. The visual supports should be practiced during calm and regulated periods to ensure easier accessibility during times of distress.
Fidget toys: Fidget toys provide tactile stimulation and can help redirect restless energy. Examples include stress balls, squishy toys, and textured sensory balls. These toys offer a sensory outlet and can assist in promoting focus and calming sensations.
Noise-cancelling headphones: Noise-cancelling headphones can help reduce auditory overload and create a quieter, more calming environment. They are particularly useful in situations with loud or overwhelming noises, such as crowded spaces or during sensory overload.
Weighted items: Weighted items, such as weighted blankets or lap pads, provide deep pressure input, which can have a calming effect on the nervous system. The gentle pressure can help children with autism feel grounded and regulated.
Calming sensory tools: Calming sensory tools, like sensory bottles or sensory brushes, can engage multiple senses and promote relaxation. These tools can be personalized to the child's preferences and sensory needs.

Implementing Calming Kits

When implementing a calming kit, it's important to consider each child's unique sensory preferences and sensitivities. Here are some strategies for effectively using a calming kit:

Introduce the kit: Familiarize the child with the calming kit and explain its purpose. Encourage them to explore the different items and understand how they can be used for self-regulation.
Collaborate with the child: Involve the child in selecting the items for their calming kit. This empowers them to take ownership and increases engagement with the tools.
Teach self-regulation techniques: Demonstrate and teach the child various self-regulation techniques that they can practice using the items in the calming kit. For example, deep breathing exercises, sensory activities, or following visual supports.
Practice and reinforce: Encourage the child to use the calming kit during calm periods to practice self-regulation techniques. Reinforce their efforts and provide positive feedback as they learn to utilize the tools effectively.
Personalize and adjust: Periodically evaluate the calming kit to ensure that it meets the changing needs of the child. Personalize the kit based on their preferences and add or remove items as necessary.

By incorporating a calming kit into a child's routine, parents and educators can provide valuable tools and resources to support their emotional well-being and self-regulation skills. It's important to remember that each child is unique, so it may take time and experimentation to find the right combination of items that work best for them.

Choosing Calming Colors

When creating a calm-down corner for children with autism, selecting the right colors for the space can have a significant impact on their overall comfort and relaxation. Color psychology plays a crucial role in creating a soothing environment that promotes calmness and reduces anxiety. Here, we will explore the principles of color psychology and recommend calming color choices for a calm-down corner.

Color Psychology

Color psychology is the study of how colors affect human emotions and behavior. Certain colors have been found to have calming effects on individuals with autism, creating a sense of tranquility and reducing sensory stimulation. When choosing colors for a calm-down corner, it's essential to consider the following factors:

Hypersensitivity to Sounds: Individuals with autism are often hypersensitive to sounds. Providing sound insulation and allowing for manipulation of sound pressure levels can be helpful. Pink noise, such as rustling leaves, steady rain, and wind, is calming and soothing for individuals with autism, while white noise can be disturbing and stimulating.
Brightness and Distraction: Bright, intense colors can be overwhelming for individuals with autism. It's important to opt for soft, muted tones to create a calming environment. Neutral colors such as beige, greys, creams, or tans are suitable as they are calming and not distracting. White, on the other hand, is not recommended as it can be too bright and tiring for the eyes, potentially reminding children of clinical settings like hospitals.
Wavelengths and Sensory Processing: Colors with shorter wavelengths, such as muted greens and blues, have been found to be calming for individuals with sensory conditions, including autism. These colors can banish chaos and soothe the senses, helping individuals process their environment in a sensory room [6].
Emotional States and Feelings: Pastel pinks and lilacs can create feelings of safety and love, evoking a peaceful state. These colors are suitable for a calming sensory room or bedroom for individuals with autism, providing a serene and comforting atmosphere [6].

Recommended Color Choices

Based on color psychology and recommendations for creating a calming environment for individuals with autism, the following colors are recommended for a calm-down corner:

Color	Description	Effect
Soft Blues	Muted tones of blue	Calming and soothing, reducing anxiety
Muted Greens	Soft, muted shades of green	Promoting relaxation and harmony
Soft Oranges	Gentle, muted shades of orange	Providing comforting warmth
Pastel Pinks and Lilacs	Soft, light shades of pink and lilac	Creating feelings of safety and love

Remember, it's important to strike a balance between using calming colors and personal preferences. Ultimately, the goal is to create a serene and supportive environment that helps children with autism regulate their emotions and find comfort in their calm-down corner.