The Zones of Regulation

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There are 4 zones included in the Zones of Regulation and each zone has it’s own colour. It’s very important that these colours remain the same – no changing them for ‘prettier’ colours! Each of the zones is based on a feeling/emotion/behaviour. Here, you will find self-regulation activities (emotional regulation, internal regulation, and physical regulation strategies) and tips to work on self-regulation of emotions through fun and interactive activities. The program supports children and families in better understanding how self-regulation works through concreate concepts, colors, and strategies. Now, the teacher who referred to it as a behaviour management tool – although wrong, she is partly right. The curriculum uses a cognitive behaviour approach. The activities help individuals to learn about each of the four zones, and to recognise when they are in one of those zones. What are ‘Zones’?

Yes. Many of us “disguise” our Zone to match social expectations. We use the expression “put on a happy face” or mask the emotion so other people will have good thoughts about us. Parents often say that their children “lose it” and goes into the Red Zone as soon as they get home. This is because children are increasing their awareness of their peers and expectations when in the classroom. They make every effort to keep it together at school to stay in the Green Zone. Home is when they feel safe to let it all out.Self” means you or me. “Regulation” means the process of being in control or to have management. So, add these two terms together and you get “self-regulation”.

Use this Lion and lamb self- regulation craft to identify emotions and talk about “lamb” emotions and responses and “lion” emotions and responses. Make a Coping Skills Toolbox Kids can go through the various calming and alerting activities and use them to self-regulate. Make a Zones of Regulation Chart Now that you know some zones of regulation activities, you can use them in the classroom or learning environment. Whether that be in the traditional school setting, in homeschooling, or in remote learning settings, the a regulation curriculum or practical self regulation strategies are effective to foster learning. One of the most important steps to self-regulation is having the self-awareness that something is “off” and we need to do something physically emotionally, or cognitively and that a change must happen. This is where understanding the nervous system is important for the adult in the situation. Understanding what is happening behind the limbic system, the vestibular system, proprioceptive system, and overall sensory processing systems are key. Green Zone: The Green Zone signifies an optimal state of alertness. Children in this zone are focused, calm, and ready to learn. They feel happy, content, or relaxed.

Identify a range of calming and alerting strategies that support them (known as their personal ‘toolkit’.) Alertness levels are a key component of the zones of regulation. Students learn to identify their current level of alertness, understand how it impacts their emotions and behaviors, and use strategies to adjust their alertness to an optimal level for learning and interaction. Anyone interested in learning how to implement The Zones of Regulation curriculum should sign up for training, including: A self-regulation blueprint can be created that includes helpful strategies and self regulation activities that can be used when needed to support children.

Yellow Zone: heightened state of alertness; elevated emotions; has some control; feels frustrated, worried, silly/wiggly, excited, loss of some control. All of the Zones are experienced naturally, and the framework focuses on teaching individuals how to recognise and manage their Zones based on their goals and task demands.

Different tools work for different people. Can you help your child choose what works for them when they need to move from one zone to another? One tool to support these skills is by using self awareness games. Games can help to support the individual in using self-reflection skills as a tool for beginning the internal processes needed for functional use of self-regulating strategies “in the moment”.

What do you think about the Zones of Regulation? Do you use the Zones of Regulation? Where – at home? In the classroom? At therapy? There are so many options for zones of regulation activities for kids. What would you add to this list? It’s important to include things on the poster like a social story of sorts that shows how not to act or behave, including dangerous consequences or hurting others as a result of angry feelings. This makes a self-regulation strategy an effective and fluid tool for a child to understand, learn, and achieve without feeling judged or different. Self-regulation can go by many names such as ‘self-control’, ‘impulse management’ and ‘self-management’. Self-regulation is best described as the best state of alertness for a situation. For example, when your child takes part in a sports game, they would need to have a higher state of alertness than when, for example, they were working in a library.

Author Leah Kuypers explains The Zones

Self-regulation is a skill that many children have a difficult time learning and achieving without help. In a given day, a child (and an adult) encounters multiple situations and circumstances that require an awareness of self and others as well as the ability to have or gain self-control. The Zones curriculum targets learners who need support with self-regulation. Initially it was developed considering the needs and learning styles of Neurodivergent learners, but all kids can benefit from learning about their own emotions and tools. Everyone experiences difficulties in self-regulation from time to time. Because The Zones of Regulation curriculum provides a universal common language, consistent visual structure, and equitable support for all learners, many general education teachers have adopted it for use with their whole class. When students understand the connection between their arousal states and their ability to self-regulate, they can identify different zones or levels which they are currently in at any given time.