ABSTRACT

Early childhood educators can have a great impact in helping children learn healthy habits that continue into adulthood. A great part of an early childhood educator's time with young children is teaching and fostering social emotional skills. In the world today, there are many stressors that have an impact on even the smallest of children. One strategy a teacher can implement in their classroom to promote healthy habits to cope with daily stressors in a safe place known as a calm down corner. Creating a calm down corner can be difficult for some classrooms without the proper equipment. The calm down corner can be a benefit to both teachers and children to have a space in the classroom to calm down and reflect. Grant funds will provide equipment to create a calm down corner with items such as fidget toys, books about feelings, and soft items such as pillows and weighted stuffed animals. Teachers have noticed that when these types of materials are available for children they learn to communicate feelings and conflicts in a healthy way and is a skill that can develop healthy, productive adults.