Calm Cards are visualtools that help individuals managestress through simple images & calming techniques,promoting self-regulation & relaxation in any environment.
What are Calm Cards ?
Calm Cards are a visual strategy to teach self-regulation and give support to a learner when they are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, frustrated or angry. The visuals allow the learner to choose a calming method to help them in that moment. Letting the learner choose a Calm Card helps them exercise their independence, decision making, and self regulation skills.
Having a Calm Card available allows the caregiver to point to the card, hand the card to the learner, hold up the card, or place the card in a designated spot when the learner needs a reminder of a way to calm down. The carer may choose the card that best suits the learner at that moment or they may let the learner choose which Calm Card they would like to use.
The goal of the Calm Cards is to remind the learner of the different ways they can choose to calm themselves. Learning to handle big emotions in appropriate ways are important skills for learners to develop. In the midst of an emotional outburst or disruption, it is hard for our learners to cope and think clearly.
Having the Calm Cards available helps encourage self-regulation before the big emotions become a full-blown meltdown.
The Calm Card can be used as part of a visual schedule, behavior chart, check in/check out chart, choice board or communication system.
Just because one Calm Card worked yesterday for a certain emotion, does not mean it will work today. Allowing the learner to choose a Calm Card in the moment is more likely to help them become calm than just handing them the one the carer believes is best.
