How to Create a
Calm-Down Corner in the Classroom

 Let’s get straight to the heart of it—ideas for creating your own calm-down corner in your classroom! It’s important to note that whatever you decide to include (and whatever name you choose), this tranquil space should be set apart from student desks and the main meeting areas. This can be a challenge in smaller classrooms, but for it to be effective, students need the ability to have some distance from their peers. So, what exactly is a calming corner? Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, counselor, or coach, you understand the challenges of not only facilitating learning but also supporting the emotional wellness of your students. 

How to Create a Calm-Down Corner in the Classroom

A Real-Life Example:

In one classroom, located in Oregon and Texas, the calming corner is equipped with specific items to facilitate emotional regulation and a sense of calm, all featuring Ahvian The Creative’s emotions related to colors. Here’s what they have:

Rug or Mat: Using calming colors with character emotions depicted, such as:

• Blue for Ahvian when he’s sad
• Purple for Ahvian when he’s scared
• Red for Ahvian when he’s angry
• Yellow for Ahvian when he’s happy
• Green for Ahvian when he’s disgusted

Bean Bag Chair:

A comfortable spot for students to sit and relax, featuring Ahvian’s emotions.

Tufted Floor Large Round Pillow: 

This pillow has individual emotions printed on it, such as sadness, fear, anger, happiness, and disgust. Students can choose to sit on the emotion they feel most aligned with at that moment. This exercise helps teachers or instructors recognize and track how children are feeling and guide them accordingly. Different puzzles in the corner help students to recenter and refocus, allowing them to rejoin the learning process. Additionally, finger puppets assist them in identifying their emotions, recognizing actions to change emotions, and practicing self-regulation. This helps children find a sense of calm when they are feeling overwhelmed or upset.