# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Creating a positive classroom and home. Success with children of all emotional states requires the right attitude within yourself as well as a good approach.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Coping skills are activities you can do to help manage difficult thoughts and feelings. Not all coping skills work all the time, so it's good to have a variety to help your child manage their thoughts

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This blog uses affiliate links. Basically, I make a small commission when you use these links, at no additional cost to you.

Teaching coping skills to older children and teens is important for emotional self-regulation. This free printable list of calm down tools and strategies for older kids is a great resource for parents!

The thing about kids with autism, anxiety, or sensory issues is that they grow up. Unfortunately, there is a serious lack of resources for parents of older children, pre-teens, teens, and yes, even adults.

You can easily find lots of calm down strategies and suggestions for toddlers, preschoolers, and young children, but there is a gap when it comes to older kids and up. Where are the calming strategies for older children?

Obviously, my kids are still quite young, so I don't have experience with pre-teens, teens, and adults with anxiety, sensory processing disorder, or autism. However, my oldest is already seven and is already requiring a different set of tools in his calm down kit than he did over the past few years.

So if you have been thinking of making a calm down kit geared towards an older child, then look no further than this list of 40+ calm down tools for older kids. I have also included a free printable for you to keep handy while shopping for items for the calm down kit.

This post contains affiliate links.

40+ Calm Down Tools for Older Kids

There have been numerous times where people have commented that my list of 40+ calm down ideas for kids is geared towards smaller children, which it is, and have wished that there was a solid list of ideas for older children. So whether you want to build a calm down kit for older kids or you just want a list of awesome calm down tools, then look no further than this list of 40+ calm down tools for older kids!

1. Chewing gum - We like Pur Gum and Glee Gum

2. Hard candy like lollipops, jolly ranchers, Ring Pops, or anything else that can be sucked on

3. Noise canceling headphones for listening to music or audiobooks

4. Hearing protection ear muffs

5. Book of yoga poses or yoga pose cards

6. Weighted blanket

7. Calming essential oil spray

8. Rescue Remedy spray

9. Blank notebook/journal and writing utensils

10. Coloring books

11. Skipping rope

12. Chapter books to read

13. Activity books: dot-to-dots, mazes, crosswords, sudoku, etc.

14. Stress balls

15. Rubik's cube

16. Wooden or metal logic puzzles or brain teasers

17. Mini massager

18. Scratch art doodle pad

19. MP3 or iPod loaded with music, audiobooks, nature sounds, etc.

20. Look and find books

21. Kaleidoscope

22. Weighted lap cushion

23. Heated blanket

24. Brain Quest cards

25. Crunchy snacks

26. Gummy snacks

27. Doodle books

28. Sound machine

29. Craft kits: LEGO Chain Reactions Craft Kit | Knot a Quilt Kit

30. Hand weights or small dumbbells

31. Resistance/exercise stretchy bands

32. Compression clothing

33. Cat's cradle

34. Mad Libs books

35. Puzzles

36. One player travel sized board games: Rush Hour | Laser Maze Logic Game

37. Bop It, Simon, or similar game that uses auditory or visual input

38. Chew necklace

39. Scented lotion

40. Scented candles

41. Sunglasses

Download the Free Printable Calm Down Tools for Older Kids List

Grab a copy of this free printable list. Then take it with you when you go shopping for easy reference.

Married to her high school sweetheart, Dyan is a Canadian stay-at-home mom to two boys, J and K. She is also a part-time piano teacher. She likes board games, video games, Instant Pots, and reading. To stay connected, subscribe to the weekly newsletter to get a copy of the free Weekly Autism Planner and follow along on social media.

Other Calming Strategies You'll Love

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
40+ Calm Down Tools for Older Kids {Free Printable}

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This blog uses affiliate links. Basically, I make a small commission when you use these links, at no additional cost to you. Teaching coping skills to older children and teens is important for emotional self-regulation. This free printable list of calm down tools and strategies for older kids is a great resource for parents!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
DIY Calm Down Kit - teach how to self-regulate, manage big emotions, reduce stress. Tools and strategies to help a anxious or emotional child calm down.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
One of the most important things that we can teach our preschoolers is how to self-regulate when they get too excited, anxious, or overly stimulated. A strategy that works well to help preschoolers regulate their emotions is to provide a quiet corner or nook that is stocked with "Calm Down" bottles.

Here are 4 of our students' favorite one-ingredient bottles:

The best calm down bottles are visually appealing (like ) or provide some heavy work (like ) that will tire the kiddos out! We also love these four simple, 1-ingredient discovery bottles. They are quick to make and are interesting enough to encourage kids to sit down, take a deep breath, and regroup while discovering them.

1. Water Beads Calm Down Bottle

The 1 ingredient in this bottle is a cup of ocean colored water beads. (Available HERE.) These beads are tiny and come in a very small bag. Just soak them overnight in water and watch them expand.

Put the soaked beads into a Voss water bottle (available at most groceries stores or HERE) with a little bit of water.

The awesome thing about this bottle is that the beads in the water blend right in to create a colored water effect. The beads out of the water are more visible.

2. Rainbow Loom Band Bottle

Please tell me that I am not the only one who still has thousands of these all over her house! Pick up a few and put them in a bottle of water. They are slow sinkers and dance around in a neat pattern when you shake and swirl the bottle.

3. Magnetic Calm Down Bottle

Kids will be attracted to this bottle right away! Just fill a bottle with paper clips and water. (Note that the clips will eventually rust. If you want to create a permanent, rust-free bottle, be sure to follow handy tip.)

Add a magnetic wand to the center, and let the kids explore.

4. Pony Beads Bottle

Easy-peasy! Add clear pony beads to your discovery bottle. The kids can shake them, swirl them, flip them upside down, and watch the beads as they move through the water.

ETA: Thanks for all the great feedback and comments about these bottles! We love them too. To answer some concerns:

The Voss bottles that I buy here in the US are only plastic. I've never seen a glass water bottle and certainly would never use glass with an upset preschooler!

The bottles here in the US also have a peel-able thin plastic label. It comes right off. Some readers have mentioned that their bottles have print right on them. Yikes! I would try a drop of lemon oil or Goo-Gone. That should take the print off.

Thanks again for reading! I hope you find ideas that will work with your kiddos. ~Jamie

If you're looking for more Calm Down Bottle ideas, be sure to check out these posts:

Download Now!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
1-Ingredient Calm Down Bottles for the Classroom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
One of the most important things that we can teach our preschoolers is how to self-regulate when they get too excited, anxious, or overly stimulated. A strategy that works well to help preschoolers regulate their emotions is to provide a quiet corner or nook that is stocked with "Calm Down" bottles.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sesame Street: Common and Colbie Caillat - "Belly Breathe" with Elmo

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sesame Street - "Up Goes the Castle" (audio)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I don't often pay attention to the album-specific songs from Sesame, but this one's a real gem.

# data[].attributes.headline
NCTSN Child Trauma Toolkit for Educators

# data[].attributes.subject
NCTSN Child Trauma Toolkit for Educators

# data[].attributes.headline
Video: Helping Traumatized Children Learn

# data[].attributes.subject
Video: Helping Traumatized Children Learn

# data[].attributes.headline
Madison Metropolitan Training Modules (there are 10, here is #1)

# data[].attributes.subject
Madison Metropolitan Training Modules (there are 10, here is #1)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Trauma Module 1: Introduction to Trauma-Informed Practices in Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This is the first of a ten-module series about trauma-informed practices for educators. It provides information about trauma, prevalence, effects of trauma on behavior and learning, and how to support students in the general education setting. Target audience is teachers, administrators, student services staff, aides, and other who work in the schools.

# data[].attributes.headline
Video: Expanding Understanding of Children with Trauma

# data[].attributes.subject
Video: Expanding Understanding of Children with Trauma

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Children, Violence, and Trauma—Interventions in Schools