20 Fun DIY Calming Tools For Kids
Every parent knows the challenge of helping children manage big emotions, but finding effective calming tools for kids that don’t break the bank can feel like searching for a unicorn!
If you’ve ever spent a small fortune on sensory tools that collect dust or attempted DIY projects that ended in frustration rather than relaxation, you’re definitely not alone!
That’s why I’ve created this guide to easy homemade calming tools for kids that actually work. These DIY sensory tools are simple, engaging, and guaranteed to help children regulate their emotions while developing important coping skills.
While store-bought fidget spinners and stress balls have their place, these DIY alternatives create deeper connections and provide personalized sensory experiences that children will benefit from daily.
Also, creating effective DIY calming tools for kids doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive; these projects are simple enough for children to make but still provide rich sensory experiences for anxiety relief.
The best part is watching your child’s nervous system regulate while they develop crucial emotional regulation skills through sensory play.
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DIY Calming Tools For Kids
Homemade calming toys help children manage big feelings and anxiety using simple household materials. These DIY sensory tools below can be customized to each child’s needs, whether they respond best to visual, tactile, or sound-based sensory input.
If you love making sensory bins and bottles for your toddlers, you will love all these sensory play ideas!
1. Fun Butterfly Sensory Bin for Toddlers
This DIY sensory bin combines beautifully colored rice with butterfly-themed accessories, offering a calming, nature-inspired sensory experience perfect for little learners. Your kids will love playing with butterflies, and you will love some quiet time to yourself.
Get full details from The Mindful Toddler
2. Calming Winter Sensory Bottle for Toddlers
This is my absolute FAVORITE sensory bottle. We use it in our calm down corner, and I often find myself shaking it just because I love how calming it is!
Get full details from The Mindful Toddler
3. DIY Butterfly Sensory Bottle
Do you have some butterfly gems hanging around and want to have your toddler play with them in a safe way? Make this DIY sensory calm-down bottle!
Get full details from The Mindful Toddler
4. Easy Popsicle Summer Sensory Bottle for Toddlers
Check out this super-easy summer sensory bottle for toddlers! This teaches you how to make a sensory bottle for one of your summer sensory activities to enjoy with little ones.
Get full details from The Mindful Toddler
5. Calming Lavender Prewriting Tray
This calming lavender prewriting tray was exactly what my little one needed after a tough morning. It gave him a chance to relax, play, and reset his mood, all while practicing important prewriting movements.
The gentle smell of lavender makes the activity calming!
Get full details from And Next Comes L
6. Calming Lavender Soap Foam Sensory Play
Lavender might not be your favorite scent, but it’s well known for its relaxing properties—perfect for helping both kids and adults unwind after a long day.
If you’ve never used soap foam before, you’re missing out! There’s something about the light, silky texture that’s incredibly calming. It’s soft and bubbly, which makes it a great option for kids who aren’t fans of rougher textures like sand.
Get full details from And Next Comes L
7. Calming Epsom Salt Sensory Play
Epsom salt sensory tray is a wonderful activity for kids who need a little help unwinding, relaxing, or working through big emotions.
My youngest had so much fun exploring the salt with some glass gems and tiny dragons. He created all kinds of patterns, imagined magical worlds, and even turned the gems into dragon eggs.
Get full details from Fireflies and Mudpies
8. DIY Stress Balls For Kids
These easy, hands-on stress balls give kids the chance to make their own calming tool—helping them practice emotional regulation, work on fine motor skills, and enjoy a playful way to release extra energy.
With just a few simple materials like flour, rice, water beads, and balloons, you can create soft, squishy stress balls that are perfect for squeezing whenever kids need a moment to relax.
Get full details from Mommy Evolution
9. Sensory Glow Stick Bath
Turning a regular bath into a magical sensory experience is as simple as tossing in a few glow sticks! A sensory glow stick bath is a fun way to spark your child’s imagination while giving them a chance to explore their senses in a whole new way.
With soft, colorful lights shimmering through the water, bath time becomes more than just getting clean—it’s an exciting and calming adventure.
Get full details from Mommy Evolution
10. 4th of July Calm Down Jars
Keep little hands busy and entertained with these fun 4th of July crafts for kids. These sparkly, swirling calm-down jars are sure to captivate both kids and adults.
These 4th of July crafts are the perfect way to pass the time. My kids can’t get enough of them, and I love them too!
Get full details from Lovely Indeed
11. Ocean Sensory Bag for Kids
An ocean sensory bag is the perfect way to bring a little seaside fun to your baby, toddler, or preschooler during summer—no beach trip needed! Filled with fish, octopuses, and other sea creatures, this simple sensory bag lets kids relax as they gently press and squish, making the animals drift and sway just like they’re floating in the waves.
Get full details from A Little Pinch Of Perfect
12. How to Make Rainbow Rice for Sensory Play
Rainbow rice is a bright, playful sensory material that kids can’t get enough of—they love scooping, pouring, and running their hands through the colorful grains!
It’s surprisingly easy to make using just a few basic ingredients you probably already have at home. Best of all, it dries fast, so your little ones can dive right into the fun.
Get full details from Fireflies and Mudpies
13. Polar Peas Pop Sensory Bag
This sensory bag activity gives kids all the fun of squishing and popping without any of the cleanup.
Kids will love pressing and squishing the cool little balls floating around in the gel. It’s a fun way for them to explore the feeling of cold without their hands getting too chilly—making it the perfect mess-free sensory play idea.
Get full details from A Little Pinch Of Perfect
14. Fall Snow Globe – Cozy Calm Down Tool for Kids
Add a little magic to your day with a DIY Fall Snow Globe, filled with swirling confetti that floats around like leaves dancing in the wind!
This fall-themed version brings all the cozy colors of the season into a fun, soothing activity kids will love.
Get full details from The Soccer Mom Blog
15. Monster Eyes Sensory Bottle
This monster eyes sensory bottle is a fun, sparkly, and slightly spooky craft that’s perfect for Halloween.
Not only is it a playful activity for kids, but it also doubles as a calming tool they can shake and watch whenever they need a little help settling down.
Get full details from The Soccer Mom Blog
16. Sensory Bottle with Hair Gel
If you’re looking for a simple and soothing activity for your little one, making a sensory bottle with hair gel is a great place to start.
This hair gel version is easy to make, fun for kids to play with, and offers that perfect slow, calming movement little ones love to watch.
Get full details from What A Mom Needs
17. Beautiful, Relaxing Rainbow Sensory Bottle Craft
Creating this rainbow sensory bottle is not only a fun craft but also offers a calming, mesmerizing experience for both kids and adults.
Inside the bottle, a mix of clear glue and water allows the colorful sequins to gently float and swirl. The sequins catch the light beautifully, adding a soft shimmer as they move.
Get full details from Mama Likes This
18. Easy Calming Lavender Cloud Dough Recipe
Check out this super easy lavender cloud dough recipe! It is the perfect way to bring a calmness to your kids through sensory play. If you’re looking for a soft, calming, and easy-to-make sensory play activity, this Lavender Cloud Dough is perfect!
Get full details from The Mindful Toddler
Quick Tips For DIY Calming Sensory Tools For Kids
- Create a Dedicated Space: Set up a specific calm-down corner with comfortable seating, storage for sensory tools, and visual reminders about calming strategies.
- Teach Proper Usage: Practice using calming tools during peaceful moments before expecting them to work during meltdowns or crisis moments.
- Rotate Your Collection: Keep sensory tools fresh by cycling them out every few weeks; create seasonal variations to maintain interest while preserving familiar sensory experiences.
- Document What Works: Keep a simple log noting which tools help with specific emotional states to build a personalized “sensory profile” for your child.
- Bridge to Self-Regulation: Gradually shift responsibility to your child for recognizing when they need sensory support and selecting appropriate tools.
- Adapt as Needed: Sensory preferences evolve as children develop. What works at age four might need adjustment by age seven.
Final Thoughts
Besides helping kids calm down, these DIY calming tools also teach important life skills. Kids learn to notice how they’re feeling, figure out what helps them feel better, and practice using those tools on their own. Making and using these sensory tools together helps start important conversations about feelings—things that might be hard to talk about otherwise. These simple tools become reminders that all feelings are okay, and there are always ways to handle them.
Check out these other sensory bin ideas:
Check out other fun sensory bottle ideas:
- Calming Sensory Bottle
- Sensory Bottle with Hair Gel
- Unicorn Sensory Bottle
- I Spy Sensory Bottle
- Pom Pom Sensory Bottle
- 4th of July Sensory Bottle
- Butterfly Sensory Bottle
- Magnetic Sensory Bottle
- DIY Rain Stick Shakers
- Summer Sensory Bottle
- Easter Sensory Bottle
- Fall Sensory Bottle
- Winter Find-And-See Sensory Bottle
- Calming Sensory Bottle
