Create a Cozy Corner in your classroom to help students reign-in their emotions and learn the steps for how to calm down. All classrooms should have a safe place for students and since every child experience moments in class when emotions can feel overwhelming, they need a place to calm down and get away from the activity and excitement of the classroom.

Students do not intentionally misbehave. They only lack the skills needed to process strong emotions such as anger, sadness, anxiety, and stress. Creating a Cozy Corner, a safe space, in the classroom filled with strategies children can use to help them calm down is a necessary tool for all classrooms and households.

Teachers must first introduce children to what a Cozy Corner is and why students may want to use it. This explanation can take many forms; however, students will most likely need to review what it means to be upset. You can share with students some of the emotions associated with becoming upset. They have all experienced strong emotions, so you should be able to share times when students might feel angry, sad, anxious, or overwhelmed.

To create a Cozy Corner, you will need some tools that help students calm themselves and make the space inviting.

You can find free resources online as well as tools that have a minimal cost. You can decorate your Cozy Corner with posters that help remind students how to calm down. For example, you can download this  free poster to help remind students to take deep breaths. When you show students the different tools in your Cozy Corner, you can practice the deep breaths’ strategy with them, so they know that this strategy will help them with reducing stress, anxiety, and anger.

To begin adding to your Cozy Corner, take a look at this kit filled with books, posters, and supports. For only $4.00, you will receive 50 pages of PDFs that explain calming techniques for children.

To add some color to your Cozy Corner, you can hang  this mountain tapestry for only $16.00. This tapestry will help set a natural scene within a classroom. It will also help to designate the area, so children understand where to relax in the mountains and under the trees.

You can also create a comfortable flooring for students to relax on when they need to settle down. This circular rug is the perfect size for your classroom and will add color and softness to the area.

Add a few glitter bottles to your Cozy Corner. When students are upset, they can go to the area, grab a bottle and then shake it. As they watch the swirling water and glitter move, it will calm them down. The best part about glitter bottles is that you can make them yourselves and kids love to watch the colorful glitter swirl and fall to the bottom of the bottle.

Pinwheels are another great tool to include in your Cozy Corner. As children blow on the pinwheel and watch the circular motion and shiny wheel, it will help to calm emotions.

Another easy way to add some comfort to your corner is to include some furry friends. Children love stuffed animals and will share their emotions by talking to or hugging a teddy bear, puppy dog, or cuddly cat. Really, any furry friend will help children settle.

For More Resources

Why Every Home Needs a Calm-Down

How to Create the Perfect Calm-Down Corner at Home

21 Ways to Create the Perfect Safe Place for Crying Preschoolers

Cozy Area

How to Create a Cozy Corner for Preschoolers

References

“Calm Down Techniques – Books, Posters, and Supports.” Teachers Pay Teachers, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calm-Down-Techniques-Books-Posters-and-Supports-2734315.

“Cozy Corner Strategies Worksheets & Teaching Resources: TpT.” Teachers Pay Teachers, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:cozy corner strategies.

Levin, Vanessa. “Glitter Sensory Bottles for Preschool – Pre-K Pages.” Pre, 28 June 2019, http://www.pre-kpages.com/glitter-sensory-bottle/.

Levin, Vanessa. “How to Set Up a Cozy Corner in Preschool – Pre-K Pages.” Pre, 27 Sept. 2020, http://www.pre-kpages.com/safe-space-cozy-corner-preschool/.

Piatt, Emily. “How to Create a Calm Down Corner in 5 Easy Steps.” Creatively Teaching First, Creatively Teaching First, 11 Dec. 2019, http://www.creativelyteachingfirst.com/blog/calm-down-corner-in-classroom.

“Safe Place or Cozy Corner for Little Learners.” Pocket of Preschool, 24 Sept. 2019, pocketofpreschool.com/safe-place-or-cozy-corner-for-little-learners/.

“Take Deep Breaths – Calming Strategy.” Teachers Pay Teachers, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Take-Deep-Breaths-calming-strategy-4222298?st=645ffb3c37e3fa69bdddc38f17f32077.