Calming techniques for 3 year old

[kisaki333]

My 3yo is hyperactive to say the least. She is wonderful and super clever but intense! I have a nagging feeling there's some sensory issues going on but too soon to tell.

Sometimes she seems overwhelmed by everything that's going on and at the moment her go-to is the dummies. She literally tells me "i need my dummies to calm me down". I sometimes give them during the day when she asks, but we try to limit them to sleeping only as much as we can.
The dummies are affecting her teeth so i really want to get rid of them. But i am concerned if we do, she won't have anything to fall back on (plus her sleep will suffer greatly, i am sure, and it's already abysmal).

Any advice on what i can offer her instead? I tried to suggest breathing (smells the roses, blow the candles) but she won't sit still for more than 5 seconds.
Any calming activity like drawing or coloring also is a no-go.
She just doesn't have the patience to sit still and try anything calming.
Anyone have experience with a similar child?

Will she sit for a story? We like to take a half hour on the couch together, or even dive back into bed under the covers and read lots of books together.

Build a den, switch the lights off and she can go in there with a torch and some books or sticker books. My 3 year old likes to do this and take his Yoto player in.

A little lie down together in a dark room with a star projector on and just have a cuddle and a chit chat or listen to calm music.

Go for a walk in the fresh air, but somewhere quiet. So the woods or the beach rather than the park or in town.

This is perhaps not ideal, but when my son was three the only way I could get him to calm down sometimes was to put the TV on. A screen kept him still and quiet and once it was off he was calmer.

I only let him watch Cbeeies at that age so nothing too exciting or engaging. There was a lovely show called Dipdap which was very soothing, or Little Wonders was good too (and both are short). Oh and Tik Tak, same sort of short, calming vibe.

Water play or slime or look up tuff tray activities but you only need a large plastic contain like a trofast drawer

If the thing that calms her is sucking, then you need to offer a similar experience as the swap. Obviously not ideal from a tooth perspective but a sugar free lollipop for example is more likely to be acceptable.

They're like huskies at this age. Walk walk walk.

You could try a Chewy tube or bracelet instead of the dummy. Look for Chewellry.

If you think there may be sensory needs 3 is not too early to spot or diagnose this.
Have a look at this book which has lots of fun play based ideas.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Out-Sync-Child-Has-Fun/dp/0399532714/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?adgrpid=166434666132&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.r2inUPag1qAgQghz1wrNqa6R-Ebtw9ZqGzopZy1FY01JgVlfullXlwtAxfaAj0wHYu8vvhqWRTlb7OECObPqPhm13IWOHFiMq8eOmphIk6o.caEitlyGV0_E7VGqpMYzLDixerVOlSLd-sbW03PdWoE&dib_tag=se&gad_source=1&hvadid=696967746179&hvdev=m&hvexpln=70&hvlocphy=9195089&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=9840180701313111999--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=9840180701313111999&hvtargid=kwd-306738058736&hydadcr=21607_2291951&keywords=the+out+of+sync+child+has+fun&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1737034093&sr=8-1