Quick Ways to Calm Down: Sea Life Sensory Solutions (2025 Updated Edition Free Printable)

What happens when you ask a child to take deep breaths? 

Do they sound like they are hyperventaliting? Do they take one breath and say that's enough? Do they take a shallow breath? 

We know that breathing is an important regulation tool.  It helps to lower one's heart rate, blood pressure, reduce stress hormones, improve oxegnation to the body. 

These sensory based activities were designed to engage your child with breathing for regulation and calming affects.  The movement activities also activate sensory signals to the body via proprioceptive and vestibular input.  Information may be highlighted about where our body is in space, help us to feel grounded and balanced.  We may also bring alertness to parts of the body through deep pressure (squeezing, clenching) or stretching.  

There are 8 sealife regulation activities.
1. Puffer Fish Puff
2. Clam Cuddle
3. Turtle Tongue
4. Star fish Stretch
5. Shark Scowl
6. Blobfish Bob
7. Jellyfish Jiggle
8. Seal Showtime

This printable was first released in 2016 for newsletter subscribers and contained the first four animals.  It has now been updated and contains a variety of  visual prompts for individual and classroom use. 

• Single page summary
• Two page spread of the 8 activities
• Single page with each of the individual activities
• Two pages of palm-sized cards
• Two colouring pages
• Two matching pages

I'm making an early start with Australian OT week 2025 celebrations with the release of this FREE updated printable! 

Quick Ways to Calm Down: Sea Life Sensory Solutions

Tips for implementation:
1) Print and display the poster size visual prompts. They are the perfect tool to use in a calm down corner of the classroom.
2) Print, cut and paste the round hand-size prompts. These may be accessible to a child in their pencil case or pocket.
3) Introduce the actions to individual children or to a whole classroom when everyone is already calm. Demonstrate/model the actions. Practice.
4) Affirm that all feelings are valid. When experiencing strong feelings like anger, a child may like to “scowl” like a shark.
5) Use a selection of options in a sequence. Eg. Shark scowl, Clam cuddle, puffer fish. Your child does not need to do all of the actions on one occasion. You may pick one or more.
6) No equipment is required so once the child has learnt some of the techniques, then you can recall the animal to act out the solution in any setting.
7) Encourage holding a position for 5- 10 seconds and breathe. You can repeat the action a few times (or more) to help with calming.
8) Encourage slowing down of movements. If the child starts fast (eg. jellyfish jiggle), then encourage repetition until a slower speed can be achieved.
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Calm down strategies can be used in conjuction with other sensory strategies. Regulation is needed before cognitive strategies can be implemented effectively.

Make sure you get your copy of this FREE printable! Quick Ways to Calm Down: Sealife Sensory Solutions (2025 edition)

Quick Ways to Calm Down: Sea Life Sensory Solutions

We are also in the final days for you to get a FREE ticket to the 2025 Sensory Summit:Unpacking Sensory Needs, One Case at a Time (hosted by Precision CPD).  This online conference is being held next week Oct 27-29 (Eastern Standard Time)! 

It is your last chance to grab the Early Bird VIP rate. Three days of learning is inspiring, but it can also be overwhelming. And once the summit ends, it’s easy for strategies to slip away in the busyness of life.
The VIP Ticket is the best way to make the most of the Sensory Summit.
Here’s what you get:

•  Accredited (for US readers) CEUs for OTs, PTs, SLPs, and EI providers (10 contact hours) 
•  Podcast access for flexible listening
•  Printable workbook + bonuses
•  Lifetime access to all sessions

 Early Bird VIP pricing ends Oct 26 (midnight EST).
Register free — or upgrade now before it’s too late.

Note: Pricing for the VIP ticket is in $US. I earn a small commission from sales of this ticket. 

Sensory Summit 2025 Ticket

Until next week when we will continue (since I've already started) to celebrate OT week!
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Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia.  Cindy's children are a constant source of inspiration and learning.  She loves working creatively to help children to reach their potential, finding opportunities in everyday living and making learning fun. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete).  Cindy is the author of the Occupational Therapy blog Your Kids OT.  Read more articles from Your Kids OT at https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog

Cindy is a contributing author of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team.  They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK.

​The information on this site is general in nature. The activities are safe for most children, however, you should consult an Occupational Therapist or health professional to address specific movement, sensory or other medical conditions. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote recommended products. Your Kids OT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. ​​​
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