March 26, 2021. Calm Connect in the Classroom. What is Calm Connect? First of all, what is Calm Connect? Calm Connect is a series of short 2-5 minute digital videos designed to calm the nervous system. These videos also build a bridge to the social world. You can use Calm Connect in the classroom or at home. What are the benefits? Calms the body and mind. Eases transition times between activities. Mitigates loneliness caused by social isolation. Reduces agitation, anxiety, and depression. Increases collaborative behavior. Eliminates or minimizes meltdowns. Easier bedtimes and faster sleep. Recommended as a family activity. Benefits all ages 3 to 103. What's the science? Drawing in part from relational neuroscience, the program features people of varying ages and ethnicity. Videos include specific music, patterns, rhythm, and movements. This allows viewers to switch from fight or flight to a calm and regulated state. Calm Connect is not about learning a new skill or movement. It's about being engaged in the activity. This can be rocking back and forth, or remaining still to watch a video. By design, there is no speech or language. What is included in Calm Connect? Next, Calm Connect can be streamed digitally. Videos include six categories, rise, joy, calm, focus, clarity, and rest. People can also create their own playlist featuring their favorite videos. How often should you use these videos? Finally, anyone can watch these videos daily. Many people use Calm Connect several times a day. You can watch in the morning before a learning activity or a stressful situation, when feeling nervous or anxious, and before bedtime. Calm Connect has allowed teachers and therapists to link their subscription on their distance learning page. These include Google Classroom, Seesaw, Chalkboard, Schoology, etc. This allows their students to access Calm Connect from home whenever they want. The feedback has been exceptionally positive from everyone, and Calm Connect has grown significantly across the U.S. and Canada, in part due to the social distancing by COVID-19. If you'd like to learn more about Calm Connect, you can view their website here.