Help your child recharge! Learn how to create a cozy corner at home where kids can calm down, self-regulate, and build lifelong emotional skills.
When children are overstimulated, experiencing big emotions, or just in need of a little recharge, having a comfy corner in your home can be a great tool.
Why?
Practicing calming strategies builds important self-regulation skills that children are working on throughout childhood (and into adulthood, too). Though our children may need our help and support to calm down (especially the youngest ones), having a place to go that they can use safely and whenever they need it, is useful for years to come.
How do I do this? We’ve come up with 7 Steps to make this Comfy Corner happen.
#1 Let your child co-design this space with you. You want this space to be a refuge for your child, not a punishment. At any age, talk to them about a place to calm down, keep their body safe, and take a break if they need one.
#2 Find the right location. Maybe it’s a small tent that you have for pretend play, or nook under the stairs or next to the couch. Find an area that is small and empty enough for it to become a neutral and calming space to “escape” to.
#3 Make a list of the things that help your child calm down. A favorite lovey or stuffed animal? A book or lava lamp? A meditation app or favorite breathing technique? Depending on their age, think of the things that are their “go-to” when their emotions are heightened. Try not to crowd the space, but instead to guide your child to make thoughtful choices that have meaning.
#4 Think about the light and noise in this space. Is there a way to have soft music or a break from the noise in the rest of the house? Can you throw up a curtain or blanket to make it darker and calmer? Adjust as much of the environment as you can to make the space feel cozy for your child.
#5 Consider the other senses. Does your child have a weighted blanket or weighted ball? A bean bag to hit or throw themselves into? A favorite scent to smell? A stress ball or fidget? Supporting their sensory system is a key to helping children to regulate.
#6 Practice using it! Offer your child the chance to go into the comfy corner even when they are calm. Remember that this isn’t a place they get “sent to” but instead a place they choose to go to help them regulate. For younger kids, make sure to always present it as a choice. For example, “Whenever you need a quiet break, you can choose to go to your comfy corner and give your body a minute.”
#7 Update as they age. From 2-20, a comfy corner can reflect our temperament and interests. Encourage your child to keep taking away and adding to the corner to keep it fresh, special, and effective. Maybe it becomes a place your middle schooler studies, or writes in their journal. The possibilities are endless.