Blooming Early Years

Kids often feel overwhelmed by noise, bright lights, or too much movement. When this happens, they may have big meltdowns. Luckily, sensory activities can help calm them quickly. The best sensory activities for calming kids work at home, school, or anywhere. These activities soothe their senses, helping them feel safe and happy.

Many experts recommend sensory play for kids with anxiety or sensory issues. Soft textures, gentle movements, and deep pressure help calm their minds. Also, sensory tools like weighted blankets or fidget toys work great. Parents, teachers, and caregivers can use these activities every day.

In this article, you will discover the best sensory activities for calming kids. You will also learn expert-backed strategies to stop meltdowns fast. Whether at home, in the classroom, or on the go, these simple techniques work instantly.

Sensory Calming Activities

Sensory soothing activities offer essential sensory input and support your child’s sensory processing requirements. These activities can assist in promoting relaxation, self-regulation, and reducing restlessness. Engaging in sensory calming activities may also help lower stress and anxiety levels.

Soothing sensory activities can assist children in managing feelings of overwhelm and sensory overload. When a child experiences sensory overload, they may become highly upset, struggle to concentrate, or have an emotional outburst.

Children who experience sensory processing challenges can benefit greatly from these activities, especially when they feel agitated, upset, or overwhelmed. Additionally, these activities can serve as a preventive measure against emotional outbursts. Providing a variety of options allows your child to choose the activity that best helps them regain a sense of balance and calm.

There are various calming activities designed to ease sensory overload. In this article on the best sensory activities for calming kids, we have outlined some of the most effective ones. The key is to determine which activity is the most suitable for the child’s individual needs.

The Best Sensory Activities for Calming Kids

• Engaging with play dough can be a great way for children to explore textures and keep their hands busy.
• Feeling different surfaces like sand, grass, or water with their hands can provide a soothing sensory experience.
• Wrapping a child in a snug blanket can mimic the comforting sensation of a hug.
• Gently brushing the skin, including the arms, back, legs, or head, can have a calming effect.
• Rocking movements can be naturally soothing, and some children may instinctively sway from side to side.
• Lightly massaging a child’s hands or arms can offer a sense of security and relaxation.
• Playing soft, calming music can create a peaceful atmosphere to help children settle down.
• Giving a child chewing gum or hard candy can provide oral sensory input that helps them self-regulate.
• Weighted blankets or stuffed toys can offer deep pressure stimulation, promoting relaxation.
• Water play, such as soaking in a warm bathtub or small pool, can have a calming effect.
• Crunchy foods like carrots, celery, or crackers can provide the sensory input some children need to stay focused and relaxed.
• Sensory bottles filled with water, glitter, beads, or sequins can serve as a visual calming tool.
• Fidget toys like stress balls, putty, or small handheld objects can help with self-soothing.
• Visual aids, such as a schedule or social stories, can support emotional regulation and reduce anxiety.
• Flipping a child upside down can increase blood flow to the brain, helping clear their mind and ease tension.
• Running warm or cool water over a child’s hands can quickly bring a sense of calm in different settings.
• Setting up a quiet corner or sensory room can offer a safe space for self-regulation.
• Blowing bubbles and watching them float can be a relaxing activity that enhances focus.
• Sensory bins filled with materials like rice, beans, water, or colored pasta can be a great way to engage the senses.
• Water beads provide a soothing texture for sensory play but should always be used under supervision.
• Drawing and painting, especially finger painting, can be a therapeutic way for children to express themselves.
• Soft or dim lighting can create a peaceful environment that encourages relaxation.
• Activities like building blocks or other hands-on tasks can help children focus and redirect their energy.
• Sensory pathways encourage movement-based learning, helping children stay engaged.
• Yoga poses, such as downward dog, can promote focus and relaxation through gentle movement and inversion.
• Chewable toys can be helpful for children who seek oral sensory input as a way to self-soothe.
• Deep breathing exercises are a useful technique for calming the mind and body.
• Creating a cozy hiding space, such as a tent or under a blanket, can provide comfort for children who feel overstimulated.

The best sensory activities for calming kids also include the following:

1. Take a walk
2. Use sensory fidget toys like Koosh balls
3. Listen to soothing music
4. Practice yoga poses
5. Sing the ABC song
6. Look through a kaleidoscope
7. Stretch your body
8. Request a comforting hug
9. Chew chewy snacks like licorice
10. Use a sensory chew tool
11. Hum or sing a tune
12. Use a weighted stuffed animal or snake
13. Wear noise-canceling headphones or earmuffs
14. Try a weighted or compression vest
15. Stretch with resistance bands
16. Relax in a sensory cuddle swing
17. Play with pudding for a sensory experience
18. Create music by playing an instrument
19. Crawl through a lycra sensory tunnel
20. Use a yoga ball, knobby ball, or peanut ball
21. Listen to an audiobook
22. Draw on a chalkboard or whiteboard and wipe it clean
23. Solve a puzzle
24. Read a favorite book
25. Toss and catch a weighted ball
26. Practice deep breathing techniques
27. Apply and rub in lotion
28. Get a deep-pressure massage
29. Roll a foam roller over your back and limbs while lying on your belly
30. Wear sunglasses for visual comfort
31. Color using small, broken crayons for proper grip
32. Fill in a coloring book
33. Sketch a drawing
34. Use water and a brush to paint outside on the pavement
35. Take a scented bath
36. Spray water outdoors with a squirt bottle
37. Try scented crayons
38. Diffuse essential oils for relaxation
39. Bounce a ball
40. Cuddle with a pet
41. Thread fine motor beads
42. Spend time in a quiet sensory space
43. Play inside a ball pit tent
44. Count numbers forward and backward slowly
45. Enjoy a bubble bath
46. Wrap yourself in a warm, soft blanket
47. Wash hands with warm water and scented soap
48. Close your eyes for a moment of calm
49. Teach belly breathing by placing a small toy on the stomach and watching it rise and fall
50. Gently blow on a feather
51. Create shadow puppets
52. Focus on your senses: what you see, smell, hear, taste, and touch
53. Engage in mindfulness activities
54. Shape and mold playdough
55. Brush your hair
56. Sculpt with clay
57. Do heavy work by pushing or pulling weighted objects
58. Use a sensory calm-down bottle
59. Play in a dry bean sensory bin
60. Build structures with blocks or building toys
61. Crawl through cardboard boxes
62. Use glow sticks in the bathtub
63. Tear up tissue paper for a sensory activity
64. Make silly expressions in the mirror
65. Use a straw to blow pom-poms around
66. Drink a smoothie or milkshake through a straw
67. Push against a sturdy wall
68. Draw figure eights with both hands
69. Watch the movement of a liquid sensory timer
70. Lay under a compression sheet or weighted blanket
71. Use bath crayons and paints during bath time
72. Play with jello for a sensory experience
73. Sit on an Ergo Ergo seat or Kore stool
74. Squish and stretch silly putty
75. Squeeze a stress ball
76. Paint using everyday household or outdoor objects
77. Make and play with slime
78. Explore a sensory bin filled with water beads
79. Get creative with Wikki Stix
80. Squeeze between couch cushions or pillows
81. Browse through a picture album or magazine
82. Blow on a pinwheel
83. Play with whipped cream
84. Relax on a bean bag chair
85. Mold and create with playdough
86. Use a weighted lap pad or blanket
87. Hug a stuffed toy or plush animal
88. Wear an eye mask for sensory relief
89. Suck on crushed ice
90. Take a shower for a refreshing sensory break
91. Blow bubbles in a cup of water using a straw
92. Apply joint compressions
93. Listen to nature sounds from an app or outside
94. Use a small massager for relaxation
95. Climb into a body sock for deep-pressure input
96. Play an “I Spy” game
97. Play a simple card game
98. Create an arts and crafts project
99. Trace your hands using your fingers
100. Blow bubbles and watch them float
101. Smell scented stickers
102. Read a book using a flashlight
103. Give or receive a warm hug
104. Sit inside a cozy sensory tent
105. Doodle on paper or a whiteboard
106. Play in a sandbox or sensory sand table
107. Relax on pillows or build a pillow fort
108. Do simple exercises
109. Go for a swim
110. Play with kinetic sand
111. Gently sway on a sensory platform swing
112. Give yourself a tight hug
113. Splash with water toys in a water table
114. Ride on a scooter board
115. Sit on a wiggle seat air cushion
116. Use a vibrating cushion for sensory input
117. Balance on a wobble board
118. Look at calming visual cards
119. Gently roll a small ball over your skin
120. Paint a picture or use fingerpaints
121. Watch a snow globe swirl
122. Play with rice in a sensory bin
123. Wrap up in a blanket like a burrito
124. Set up a small indoor play tent
125. Toss and catch bean bags
126. Explore cooked or dry pasta in a bin
127. Observe the movement of a sensory bubble tube
128. Make scented plastic jars and smell different scents
129. Talk about emotions and how you feel
130. Cut small pieces of yarn or play with them
131. Use a sensory projection light
132. Snuggle with a super soft blanket
133. Rock gently in a rocking chair
134. Carry a weighted backpack or push a heavy cart
135. Eat a crunchy snack like pretzels, carrots, or granola
136. Wear a weighted Theramazing hat
137. Draw or paint using markers or watercolors
138. Blow up a balloon
139. Watch a fiber-optic sensory light display
140. Turn on a lava lamp and watch the movement
141. Use a huggable massager for relaxation
142. Play on or with soft plush toys
143. Climb on a playground tower
144. Spin around on a spinning toy

When to Introduce Sensory Activities for Calming Kids

There isn’t a single right time to use calming activities, as every child’s needs are different. However, these activities can be especially useful when a child is feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated by sensory input.

For instance, calming techniques can help during major transitions, such as adjusting to a new school year or moving to a different home. They can also provide support during stressful moments, like when a loved one is sick or after the loss of a pet.

Beyond specific situations, calming activities can be incorporated regularly to help children build emotional regulation skills. This can be particularly beneficial for those who experience anxiety or have conditions such as ADHD, autism, or sensory processing disorder.

Sensory-Friendly Websites & Apps

There are several apps and websites designed to offer sensory-friendly activities that promote relaxation and focus. Some great options include:

• Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame – This app, available for both Android and Apple users, guides children through calming exercises with the help of a Sesame Street character.
• Breathing Bubbles App – Featuring a simple breathing exercise, this app helps children relax and is accessible on both Android and Apple devices.
• DreamyKid – An Apple-exclusive app that provides guided meditation, visualization techniques, and positive affirmations for kids.
• Calm.com – A website offering a variety of relaxation tools, including breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and body scan techniques.

If your child frequently experiences sensory overload, consider consulting a doctor, therapist, or occupational therapist who specializes in sensory processing challenges. These professionals can help develop personalized strategies for managing sensory overload effectively.

Additionally, therapy can be highly beneficial for children who need support in building coping mechanisms, strengthening executive functioning skills, and learning how to manage overwhelming emotions healthily.

Remember

Meltdowns can be stressful for kids and adults. However, the best sensory activities for calming kids make a big difference. Soft sounds, gentle pressure, and slow movements help kids feel relaxed. These methods work at home, in school, or even outside.

Also, experts recommend sensory tools like stress balls, chewable necklaces, and fidget spinners. These items help kids stay focused and calm. Parents, teachers, and caregivers should always have a few sensory tools ready.

When kids feel overwhelmed, using these sensory activities can stop stress before it gets worse. The best sensory activities for calming kids are easy to try. With these expert-backed techniques, you can provide instant meltdown relief anytime, anywhere.