Let’s Calm Down
Today we are going to talk about “Calm Down Jars”. For some of you, this may be a new topic, and for others, it will just be a great reminder. Either way, these jars are a wonderful tool to support children who are struggling with big emotions. Especially children with sensory processing, Autism, ADHD or anxiety. They are a popular tool since they are inexpensive, easy to make, and actually help! An added bonus is they are also a fun craft to do with children!
So, first things first… what is a Calm down Jar?
Well, it is any jar (we recommend plastic to reduce the risk of breaking) that can be filled with a simple mixture of …
Glue,
Glitter
Food colouring,
Warm water.
You can also customize it to your child with the addition of some small toys they like. Such as Lego, Shopkins, etc.
*We recommend an adult use strong glue (hot glue, crazy glue etc) to seal the lid onto your jar, once it is completed. This will help prevent little hands from being able to open it.
How do you use it?
SHAKE, STOP, WATCH & WAIT! - Yup, it’s that simple!
Anytime your child (or you) starts to feel stress, anxiety, anger or any big emotion, grab the jar and SHAKE! Shake it hard and fast for as long as you need. Then stop, watch and wait… as the glitter and items inside slowly settle. Repeat this process as many times as you want.
How does it work?
A calm-down jar acts as a visual anchor, or grounding point, to help bring a child’s focus to one place when things start to feel out of control or overwhelming.
The shaking: The shaking of the jar acts as a safe physical outlet to replace more harmful outlets children may use such as hitting, kicking, biting or self-harm. It also provides something called “proprioceptive input” to their body. The proprioceptive system is located in our muscles and joints. It detects and controls force and pressure and provides us with a sense of body awareness. The proprioceptive system has an important regulatory role in sensory processing, so proprioceptive input can assist in controlling responses and have a calming effect on children who are overwhelmed by sensory stimuli.
Watch & wait: While holding the bottle and watching the glitter and items slowly swirl and fall, a child’s hands and eyes will be brought to their midline, this can help to organize their nervous system. Their fast heart rate and shallow breathing will start to slow and the soothing visual stimulation will help put them into a relaxed almost meditative state. The entire process provides a child with a short “time out” opportunity, without any feelings of consequence or shame.
How to implement it?
As with most calm-down strategies it is best to introduce a calm-down bottle to your child before they are in a heightened state. Have them help you make it (it’s a really fun craft activity) discuss what it is, how it works and when it can be used. Then together shake it, play with it… maybe even have a little dance party, pausing the music to calm down and watch the glitter fall.
Then, simply keep it easily accessible, so the next time you notice your child starting to escalate grab it, shake it, and hand it over to them. Slowly over time, you may notice they begin to reach for it (or ask for it) when they start to feel these emotions themselves. And, as always, children learn best by example! So, the next time you feel yourself starting to get stressed or upset, grab the bottle. You too will receive all the same benefits as your child, and it’s also a wonderful opportunity for them to see you model its use and benefits.
Check out this short video to make your own calm down jar with Joanne, from our London Team. And, if you make some jars please send us pictures. We would LOVE to see them!
Thanks,
Your friends at KCC.