Just like when we learn to ride a bike or master a sport, we always start out as beginners — and it’s the same with emotions. It’s normal for children to feel angry, anxious, sad, or easily irritated by different situations. That’s why having a personal space where they can be alone and express themselves freely is ideal for understanding why they feel that way and how they can manage it.
The Calm Corner is a space children can go to when they’re experiencing a strong emotion. It’s a place where they can find tools to help restore their emotional balance — a space designed to promote peace and serenity. Emotions are accepted, validated, and acknowledged here, with the goal of learning how to channel them in a healthy way.
This is also a great tool for developing Emotional Self-Regulation. The Calm Corner can be adapted for different age groups — from young children (starting at age 3) to teens, and even adults.
At the end of this blog, you’ll find a free kit that shows you how to create your own Calm Corner.
How to create a Calm Corner for your children?
While this is a space meant just for the child, it’s essential that, as parents, you offer proper support when they are in the Calm Corner. We suggest following these steps:
- At first, don’t let them go alone. They need guidance — go in with them, sit together, and show them what they can do in the corner.
- Help them identify the emotion they are feeling. You can start with the basic emotions: joy, fear, sadness, anger, disgust, and surprise.
- Guide them in recognizing the physical sensations associated with the emotion. You can support this with questions like: How does your body feel? What changes do you notice in your body with this emotion?
- Introduce relaxation exercises. Help the child practice breathing and body relaxation techniques so they can consciously guide themselves toward a calm state after identifying and expressing the emotion.
- Support them in finding a positive solution to the situation that triggered the emotion, or in taking a restorative action if they’ve caused harm to someone else.
Important: The Calm Corner is NOT a place for isolation or punishment. It’s a space the child can go to voluntarily, whenever they feel the need, with no restrictions or obligations — whether alone or with someone else. Only in this way will they feel truly motivated to manage their emotions in the moment.
Never use it as a punishment.
The Calm Corner is not the same as a “time-out corner”. If we send children there when they’re angry, it will have a counterproductive effect, as they’ll associate it with something negative they weren’t supposed to do. The Calm Corner should be a space that welcomes all kinds of emotions.
How to create a Calm Corner for your children?
Creating a Calm Corner should always align with the child’s interests and preferences. That’s why it’s important to ask them or offer choices about what they would like to include in their own space. It’s also essential to set it up together, so the child feels involved, develops a sense of ownership over the space, and can better express themselves in it. Additionally, before all of this, it’s important to begin a process where the child learns to recognize the emotions they may experience.
What do you need?
- Decorating it. This is the essential part of the Calm Corner. For the space to truly feel calming, it needs to reflect the child’s interests and needs.
- It should be comfortable, with a mat, rugs, cushions, or blankets on the floor.
- It should be warm and cozy, with soft, pleasant colors — not overly bright — like white, beige, navy blue, or burgundy. You can also add some LED lights.
- It should feel safe, with stuffed animals and small tents that create a sense of shelter and protection. To make a simple tent, all you need are four poles, a sheet, and a bit of creativity!
- Give it a name. To make children feel more connected to the space, you can choose a name together that reflects its purpose. For example: “The Hideaway,” “The Peace Cabin,” “The Serenity Den,” or “The Calm House.”
Help your child explore and express their emotions!
A resource designed to support their emotional growth while strengthening the family bond.
