Calm Down Box

Here's something that I think every classroom should have: a calm down box. Just a container full of various fidgets and tools that kids can use to take a moment for themselves and re group for whatever reason. I have started to pick up small fidgets and items here and there to add to my own calm down box...when I have students who are agitated, not focused or if just need to settle themselves, I allow them to look through and handle items and I set a timer so they know how long they have to explore.

Calm Down Box:
A calm box can consist of various sensory based items, visual input and tactile input toys and gadgets- offer it when you want to reduce self stim behaviors, for calming or to revert attention to something else. Change up the things that are in the box on occasion so that students can explore new items and so they seem more novel.

To encourage or work on choice making: take a pic of the items in the box (or print a pic from online images) and use the pics to offer a choice of 2 or 3 to pick out of the box

Some visual favorites include:
floating polka dots gel timer
liquid motion gel timer
surfing penguin aquarium
water wheel gel timer
bubbling turtle gel timer
surfing fish aquarium
tranquil bubbling aquarium
glitter wands
spinners/tops
(can find any of these for reasonable prices at https://www.therapyshoppe.com/category/8-fidgets-fidget-toys-fidgets-for-feet-quiet-stress-alerting-focus-calming-toys

Tactile input ideas-
sensory gel pads
tangle
klicks
gel bead fidget squares
whatza animal fidget toy
gel waves tactile pads
small plastic animals (toob of penguins, dogs, arctic animals, etc.)
theraputty, play dough, slime, gak
kinetic sand, small sand toys

Also-
A small weighted lap pad
noise cancelling headphones or ear plugs
chew tubes (include if the box is specific for an individual's personal use)