A Little Calm Corner at Home | Parenting Tips for Supporting Kids

I still have the colourful memory of the time a dear friend shared a story with me over a hot cup of coffee. It wasn’t about school or work, it was about her two little girls, both in primary school.

Her youngest was having one of those days during the holidays. You know the kind - everything feels too much. She began to cry, overwhelmed in a way that only little ones can be when their feelings spill over.

Before Mum could even step in, her older sister quietly moved into action. She gathered some cushions, a blanket, and a few toys, and built her sister a tiny calm corner right there at home. Then she sat with her, offering comfort in the gentlest, most natural way.

That story has stayed with me. It reminded me that children don’t just need calm corners at school: they need them in the spaces where they live, play, and grow. And parents, too, need these small supports. Not complicated things, just simple ideas and tools that help kids feel safe when emotions get too big.

What struck me most was how instinctive it all was. One child, seeing her sister’s distress, didn’t try to fix it with words - she created space, softness, and presence.

It was such a beautiful picture of what emotional regulation looks like when it’s supported, even by the smallest of hands.

And it leaves me thinking: maybe these homemade calm corners, the shared tears, and the quiet hugs are what really show us how powerful it is to create environments where children feel safe to reset.