{"h1":"What is a calm down kit and what goes in it?","faq":[{"a":"Toddlers can begin with simple soothing items like bubbles or a soft toy, while older children can use more tools and pictures. Match the contents to your child's age and what genuinely calms them.","q":"At what age can a child use a calm down kit?"},{"a":"Keep it somewhere easy to reach and consider a travel version for school or outings. A clear box or pouch helps your child find the right tool quickly.","q":"Where should we keep the calm down kit?"},{"a":"No. A calm down kit is a helpful everyday tool, but if big feelings are frequent or disruptive, a clinician can help build a tailored regulation plan.","q":"Does a calm down kit replace therapy?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-a-calm-down-kit-and-what-goes-in-it","title":"What is a calm down kit and what goes in it?","entity":{"key":"calm-down-kit","kind":"material_discovery","name":"Calm down kit","slug":"calm-down-kit"},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent","value":"parent"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Emotional","value":"emotional"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Find Materials","value":"find_materials"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Family Empowerment","value":"family_empowerment"}],"parent":null,"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-work-on-calm-down-corner-with-my-child-at-home","title":"How can I work on Calm Down Corner with my child at home?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-work-on-creating-a-calm-down-with-my-child-at-home","title":"How to Create a Calm Down with Your Child at Home"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-calming-corner-self-management-kit-and-is-it-right-for-my-child","title":"What is Calming Corner Self-Management Kit, and is it right for my child?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-work-on-calmdown-strategies-with-my-child-at-home","title":"How can I work on Calm-Down Strategies with my child at home?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-work-on-calmdown-toolbox-with-my-child-at-home","title":"How can I work on CalmDown Toolbox with my child at home?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-work-on-sensory-integration-calm-down-jar-with-my-child-at-home","title":"How to Use a Sensory Integration Calm Down Jar at Home"}],"summary":"A calm down kit is a small, portable box of soothing sensory tools — fidgets, a glitter bottle, headphones, putty, a breathing prompt — that helps a child settle when overwhelmed. Choose items that genuinely calm your child, involve them in building it, and practise using it when calm, not only in a crisis.","answer_md":"*When big feelings take over, a small box of calming tools can be the bridge back to steady.*\n\n## In short\nA calm down kit is a simple, portable collection of soothing items a child can reach for when they feel overwhelmed, anxious or close to a meltdown. It works by giving the body and senses something predictable to focus on — touch, sight, sound, movement or deep pressure — so the nervous system can settle. There's no single \"right\" kit: the best one matches what genuinely calms *your* child.\n\n## What goes in it\nThink across the senses, and pick a handful your child actually responds to:\n\n**Touch & deep pressure**\n- A soft fidget toy, squishy ball or stretchy band\n- A small weighted item or a favourite soft toy\n- Putty or kinetic sand for squeezing\n\n**Sight & calm focus**\n- A glitter or liquid sensory bottle to watch\n- A small photo of a loved place or person\n- A simple \"feelings\" card or breathing-prompt picture\n\n**Sound**\n- Noise-reducing headphones for loud environments\n- A small music or white-noise option\n\n**Movement & breathing**\n- A pinwheel or bubbles to encourage slow, deep breaths\n- A chewy tube or crunchy snack for oral input\n\n**Comfort & routine**\n- A drink bottle, a familiar blanket, and a short, clear card showing \"what I can do next\"\n\nKeep it small, in a clear box or pouch, and let your child help choose the contents — ownership makes it far more likely to be used. Practise using the kit when your child is *calm*, not only in a crisis, so the tools feel familiar when feelings run high.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nA calm down kit supports everyday emotional regulation — it is not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. A clinical [AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care. If big feelings happen often, are intense, or get in the way of play, learning or sleep, our therapists can help you build strategies tailored to your child. Explore our [occupational therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/best-occupational-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) support and ideas for your own [calm down kit](/calm-down-kit).\n\n## Trusted sources\nAmerican Academy of Pediatrics guidance on supporting children's emotional regulation (healthychildren.org); WHO Nurturing Care framework on responsive caregiving.\n\n**Next step —** Want a calming plan that fits your child? [Book an assessment with a Pinnacle clinician](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/best-occupational-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate).","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-a-calm-down-kit-and-what-goes-in-it","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-a-calm-down-kit-and-what-goes-in-it","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[],"meta_title":"Calm Down Kit: What It Is & What to Put In It","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Practise using the kit when your child is already calm, so the tools feel familiar and reassuring when feelings run high.","published_at":"2026-06-11T05:04:00.103083+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"home","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-calming-corner-self-management-kit-and-is-it-right-for-my-child","title":"What is Calming Corner Self-Management Kit, and is it right for my child?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-work-on-calmdown-toolbox-with-my-child-at-home","title":"How can I work on CalmDown Toolbox with my child at home?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-work-on-creating-a-calm-down-with-my-child-at-home","title":"How to Create a Calm Down with Your Child at Home","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-work-on-sensory-integration-calm-down-jar-with-my-child-at-home","title":"How to Use a Sensory Integration Calm Down Jar at Home","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-work-on-calmdown-strategies-with-my-child-at-home","title":"How can I work on Calm-Down Strategies with my child at home?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-work-on-calm-down-corner-with-my-child-at-home","title":"How can I work on Calm Down Corner with my child at home?","reason":"Linked from this answer"}],"label":"At home & in everyday life","total":6}],"what_to_watch":"Notice which items truly calm your child versus over-excite them, and watch for big feelings that are very frequent, very intense, or disrupt play, learning or sleep.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org","label":"AAP HealthyChildren — supporting emotional regulation"},{"url":"https://nurturing-care.org","label":"WHO Nurturing Care Framework"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T05:04:00.103083+00:00","meta_description":"A calm down kit is a small box of soothing sensory tools that helps a child settle when overwhelmed. See what to include and how to use it.","related_materials":[{"code":"29","path":"/materials/bath-suction-fidget-toy-29","title":"Bath Suction Fidget Toy","category":"Sensory Regulation & Nervous System Modulation"},{"code":"119","path":"/materials/pull-out-spike-sensory-toy-119","title":"Pull-Out Spike Sensory Toy","category":"Sensory Regulation & Nervous System Modulation"},{"code":"148","path":"/materials/sensory-baby-balls-set-148","title":"Sensory Baby Balls Set","category":"Sensory Regulation & Nervous System Modulation"},{"code":"224","path":"/materials/fidget-cube-stress-relief-toy-224","title":"Fidget Cube Stress Relief Toy","category":"Sensory Regulation & Nervous System Modulation"},{"code":"228","path":"/materials/pop-it-fidget-toy-stress-relief-228","title":"Pop It Fidget Toy (Stress Relief)","category":"Sensory Regulation & Nervous System Modulation"},{"code":"232","path":"/materials/pop-tube-sensory-fidget-toy-232","title":"Pop Tube Sensory Fidget Toy","category":"Sensory Regulation & Nervous System Modulation"},{"code":"316","path":"/materials/3-ball-spirometer-lung-exerciser-316","title":"3-Ball Spirometer / Lung Exerciser","category":"Emotional Regulation & Coping"},{"code":"540","path":"/materials/donut-plush-cushion-540","title":"Donut Plush Cushion","category":"Emotional Regulation & Coping"},{"code":"2109","path":"/materials/calming-corner-self-management-kit-2109","title":"Calming Corner Self-Management Kit","category":"Emotional Regulation & Coping"},{"code":"2146","path":"/materials/kids-desk-affirmation-cards-30-cards-with-stand-2146","title":"Kids Desk Affirmation Cards (30 Cards with Stand)","category":"Emotional Regulation & Coping"},{"code":"2162","path":"/materials/self-affirmation-posters-set-6-pieces-2162","title":"Self-Affirmation Posters Set (6 Pieces)","category":"Emotional Regulation & Coping"},{"code":"2176","path":"/materials/stretchable-wrist-band-bracelet-2176","title":"Stretchable Wrist Band Bracelet","category":"Sensory Regulation & Nervous System Modulation"},{"code":"2208","path":"/materials/kids-gratitude-journal-2208","title":"Kids Gratitude Journal","category":"Emotional Regulation & Coping"},{"code":"2228","path":"/materials/sensory-fidget-stones-set-6-pieces-2228","title":"Sensory Fidget Stones Set (6 Pieces)","category":"Sensory Regulation & Nervous System Modulation"},{"code":"2306","path":"/materials/led-glow-sticks-luminous-2306","title":"LED Glow Sticks (Luminous)","category":"Sensory Regulation & Nervous System Modulation"},{"code":"2343","path":"/materials/no-biting-behaviour-book-2343","title":"No Biting! 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