7 Tips for Helping Children Feel Calm

Creating a calm, stable environment is crucial for any child’s development, but it can be especially important for children in foster care who may struggle with difficult emotions or past trauma. As a parent or foster carer, you have the power to help soothe and relax the children in your care. With patience and compassion, you can teach healthy emotional regulation and create a peaceful home. This article provides five tips for helping children feel calm, whether at home or school

1. Teach Calming Strategies

Equip children with go-to relaxation skills. When they get upset, prompt them to take deep breaths, squeeze a stress ball, or use phrases like “I’m okay.” Teach them to identify their emotions. With time, children can learn to independently calm themselves down. Patience is key, as these skills take practice.

2. Adjust the Environment

Try to minimise excessive noise, clutter, or stimulation, which can overwhelm children. Foster children, in particular, may struggle with sensory processing. Keep lighting gentle, limit screen time before bed, and play soft music. Make cosy, designated calm-down spots. Children may just need a quiet space to decompress so they don’t become too overwhelmed by their emotions. 

3. Encourage Exercise and Play

Physical activity is a healthy outlet for stress. Make sure children get time for play and exercise daily. Take them to the park or play games together, kick a football around in the gardem, or even suggest they take the dog for a walk if you have one. Foster children may especially benefit from vigorous exercise to release pent-up emotions. Just be sure to avoid over tiring them.

4. Establish Routines

Structure and predictability are comforting for children. Set regular times for meals, school, play, and bedtime. You can even make checklists or schedules with pictures. Knowing what to expect helps children feel in control. Keep activities in the same order and try to limit surprises. Some children need routines more than others. Autistic children, for example, don’t deal well with unexpected changes to their routines. 

5. Show Unconditional Support

Above all, ensure children feel unconditionally loved and supported. Many foster children struggle with their emotions and react to past trauma in their behavior. Remain patient and compassionate even during challenging moments. Help them understand it’s okay to feel upset or scared sometimes. 

6. Seek Additional Support if Needed

If a child’s emotional challenges become overwhelming, reach out for support. Contact your foster agency, such as Active Care Solutions, for help accessing counselling or other therapeutic services. You don’t have to handle difficulties alone. Seeking professional support can empower you to better provide the child with the care they need.

With sensitivity and care, you can make home a peaceful place for children to develop emotional skills. Patience is key, as regulating emotions is an ongoing process. By following the advice above, you can help any child find calm, especially during difficult moments. With your help, they can learn emotional resilience to aid them throughout life.