Whether you call it a Brain Lab, Calming Corner, Peace Area, Zen Den, Sensory Space, or Regulation Room, the goal is usually similar: creating a place where kids can pause and get the support they need to regulate. In the Brain Lab, the Regulation Station is the part of that process where kids begin experimenting with different tools and activities and noticing what actually helps their bodies.

When creating regulation spaces for kids, its easy to focus on the things we can put in them: fidgets, sensory bottles, weighted items, breathing tools, movement activities. Those things can be incredibly helpful, but having a basket full of sensory tools isn't the same thing as teaching a child to regulate.

The Regulation Station is where kids begin connecting what they noticed when they checked their engine with something they can actually do. If my engine is running fast, what helps my body organize and settle? If I'm running slow, what helps me become more alert and available? And perhaps most importantly, how do I begin learning what works for my nervous system?

Below are some ideas of activities for your Regulation Station: