Zones of Regulation
The Zones of Regulation is an internationally renowned intervention which helps children to manage difficult emotions, known as ‘self-regulation’. Emotional regulation is the ability to control your emotions and not let them drive your actions. Before children can listen, have empathy, or follow direction, they have to be able to manage their emotions. Emotional regulation means being able to identify feelings, respond with empathy and understanding, and manage change. It helps us to control impulses, calm down and handle emotions in a healthy way.
We use the Zones of Regulation throughout Links. We want to teach all our children good coping and regulation strategies so they can help themselves when they experience difficult situations in and out of school. Teaching them how to cope with these feelings can improve their ability to tackle learning challenges and build better resilience so they don’t give up so easily.
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/wiggly, 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.
