20 Simple Ways to Calm A Child

The following information was found on page 5 of the Spring 2009 School Specialty Sensory, Learning & Behavior Solutions Integrations catalog, written by Miss Sue and Team.

1. Soften the lights.
2. Bring the child to a less busy room.
3. Have the child face a simple wall.
4. Keep a "chill-out" space always available..know the signs before someone needs it.
5. Be aware of temperature and make sure the child hasn't over-heated. If necessary, turn on a fan, remove a sweater, etc.
6. Provide soft, slow, rhythmic humming, song, or music (no words), or metronome.
7. Repeat an affirmation rhythmically, such as, "It'll be okay, it'll be okay, it'll be okay..." (no other talking on ANYONE's part until everyone is calm.
8. Dampen extraneous noises by closing the door or putting headphones on the child and providing calming music.
9. "Swaddle" by wrapping the child in a blanket.
10. Rub or rhythmically pat the back firmly.
11. Have child apply pressure by sitting in a bean bag chair.
12. Have child sit in a rocking chair, bouncy chair, or on a ball chair.
13. Trampoline, or if not available, jump up and down 10 times.
14. Wall or chair push-ups.
15. Offer something to suck on, like a hard candy, or a snack-sized applesauce, pudding, or yogurt to eat through a straw.
16. Crunchy foods can calm. Try goldfish crackers, pretzel rods, or carrot sticks.
17. Deep breathing....
18. Blow whistles and march to music.
19. Have the child blog bubbles.
20. Chew on a "chewy".
    

Visual Perception Activities

What is visual perception? Some students have difficulty with focusing their eyes. This can impact them in the classroom in a variety of ways. Below is a list of activities that can be done with a student to strengthen their developing visual skills.

1. Mazes: have the student work a variety of mazes. This will have the added benefit of strengthening fine motor skills also.
2. Matching, sorting, and labeling objects based on color, shape, size, function, etc.
3. Sorting and labeling pictures.
4. Hidden pictures: have students find objects hidden in a picture, like the Where's Waldo photos.
   
5. Matching objects to outlines drawn.
6. Memory games using a small selection of picture cards, and finding pairs.
7. Spot the Difference: find differences between two photos
8. What Did You See?: Show 2-5 objects for 15 seconds, cover them or take them away, and have the student recall what they saw.
9. I Spy: Play the I Spy game. Have the student point to the item that you have named.
10. Dot-to-dot exercises

This is just a partial list of many activities that can be done to strengthen a student's visual skills. Remember: vision is not just a matter of can they see or not, it also includes tracking skills, focusing from near to far, and many other skills.