Sensory boxes can be relatively simple and inexpensive to make, yet incredibly helpful at times for people who often feel anxious or overwhelmed. It can help by allowing the person to engage with their senses, thus allowing the person to feel more relaxed and more grounded in the present moment.

Everyone's sensory box will be different depending on what kind of senses people find most calming. For instance, someone might find that smelling something is soothing to him or her and therefore they may like to fill their sensory box with nice-smelling candles or moisturisers. Alternatively, someone might prefer something they can taste and therefore may elect to keep lollies or mints in their box. Either way there is no right or wrong thing to keep in your sensory box, just whatever helps you! Here are a few suggestions to help get you started!

• Mints
• Gum
• Sour lollies
• Perfume
• Hair scrunchies
• Scented moisturiser
• Scented candles
• Aromatherapy oils
• Bath salts
• Ipod with calming music
• Relaxation CDS
• Stress balls
• Kinetic sand
• Buttons
• Rubbing stones
• Assorted skin, hair, and nail items
• Rubber bands
• A favourite book to read
• Playdough
• Bells
• Incense sticks
• Poems
• Paintings
• Postcards of places you have visited or would like to visit
• Photographs
• journal
• Pictures of people who inspire you

(Image from Unsplash by Rumman Amin)