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The Zones of Regulation (ZoR)

What is The Zones of Regulation framework?

The Zones of Regulation is a complete social-emotional learning curriculum, created to teach children self-regulation and emotional control.

It’s often taught in school or therapy settings, but parents can use and teach The Zones of Regulation at home, too. Implementing strategies across different environments increases the success of the program.

What does it teach children?

The program teaches a variety of social-emotional skills to children, starting with early emotional skills and advancing to self-regulation and navigating social situations.

Here are some skills covered in The Zones of Regulation:

  • Identifying your emotions by categorising feelings into four coloured zones (blue, green, yellow and red)
  • Self-regulation: Achieving the preferred state of alertness (zone) for a situation. This is all about regulating your body and emotional regulation
  • Identifying triggers: Learning what makes you “tick” and why
  • Coping strategies: Various techniques and strategies that help achieve emotional regulation and manage strong emotions
  • Size of the problem: Introduces the idea that the size of your reaction should match the size of your problem, how to identify the size of your problem, and strategies for problem-solving
  • Expected behaviour vs unexpected behaviour: This also covers perspective taking and how your behaviour affects the thoughts and feelings of the people around you

What are the different Zones?

Blue Zone: low level of arousal; not ready to learn; feels sad, sick, tired, bored, moving slowly.

Green Zone: calm state of alertness; optimal level to learn; feels happy, calm, feeling okay, focused.

Yellow Zone: heightened state of alertness; elevated emotions; has some control; feels frustrated, worried, silly, excited, loss of some control.

Red Zone: heightened state of alertness and intense emotions; not an optimal level for learning; out of control; feels mad/angry, terrified, yelling/hitting, elated, out of control.

How do we use The Zones of Regulation at Soundwell?

We display shapes with the colours of each Zone in each classroom. The children are encouraged to check in by moving their names to a corresponding Zone each morning during Wellbeing. This helps children to identify and name their emotions and enables teachers understand how their pupils are feeling and support them as needed. We also display some strategies next to the Zones which aim to help children to self-regulate.

All staff members use the language of The Zones of Regulation and encourage children to describe which Zone they are in. We also provide 1:1support sessions with HLTAs using ZoR strategies.

How can you help your child use The Zones of Regulation at home?

  • Identify your own feelings using Zones language in front of your child (e.g. I am frustrated. I think I am in the Yellow Zone.”)

  • Talk about what tool you will use to be in the appropriate Zone (e.g. “I need to take four deep breaths to help get me back to the Green Zone.”)

  • At times, wonder which Zone your child is in. Or, discuss which Zone a character in a film / book might be in. (e.g. “You look sleepy. Are you in the Blue Zone?”)
  • Engage your child in discussion around Zones when they are in the Red Zone is unlikely to be effective. You need to be discussing the different Zones and tools they can use when they are more regulated / calm.
  • Teach your child which tools they can you. (e.g. “It’s time for bed. Let’s read a book together in the comfy chair to get you in the Blue Zone.”)
  • Regular Check-ins. “How are you feeling now?” and “How can you get back to Green?”
  • Modelling it is important to remember to show the children how you use tools to get back to the green zones. You might say “I am going to make myself a cup of tea and do some breathing exercises because I am in the blue zone” and afterwards tell your child how using those tools helped you get back to the green zone.
  • Share how their behaviour is affecting your Zone. For example, if they are in the Green Zone, you could comment that their behaviour is also helping you feel happy / go into the Green Zone.
  • Put up and reference the Zones visuals and tools in your home.
  • Praise and encourage your child when they share which Zone they are in.