Ready. Set. Zones! How the Zones of Regulation™ can help your child regulate and control their emotions.

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Incorporated into Julie Billiart Schools daily curriculum, The Zones of Regulation™, designed by Leah Kuypers M.A. ED, OTR/L, is used to help students gain skills in the areas of self-regulation of both their physical body and their emotions. The system works best when students understand what triggers each zone and when they are given strategies and tools to help get them back to the green zone. It’s important to understand that everyone, no matter who you are, experiences all of the Zones. As we review the different colored Zones, know that there aren’t “bad” Zones; they are all expected to occur at some point in time. They are intended to help students communicate their feelings and not communicate judgment.

Understanding The Zones

Blue Zone

When students describe themselves as in the Blue Zone, they are describing themselves as not feeling very alert or having low energy. Most commonly their emotions might be: feeling sad, tired, sick, or bored.

Green Zone

This is the ideal state of alertness. When we are reaching for tools and strategies in the other Zones, it’s with the goal to help students reach the Green Zone. Students in this Zone may describe themselves as calm, happy, focused, or content. When they are in this Zone they have a strong sense of control over their physical body and their emotions.

Yellow Zone

Students in the Yellow Zone may be experiencing a sense of stress or frustration by certain tasks or things around them. They could also be feeling excited or silly. It’s important to remember that emotions are a spectrum and these Zones help us to identify how students are feeling.

Red Zone

When students are in the Red Zone, they feel a loss of control. This could be anger, rage, panic, grief, or explosive behavior. When in the Red Zone their alertness is extremely heightened and they don’t have control over their bodies or emotions.

Understanding The Problem

In order to help find the right solution, we must first make sure students are having expected behaviors and appropriate responses to their triggers. We encourage them to think about the size of their reaction relative to the size of their problem. We can do this by showing them a visual and talking with them about the difference between the problems. This practice helps them work through real-life situations on their own, becoming masters of self-regulation.

Finding The Right Tools

Depending on how students are feeling, we encourage them to use expected behaviors and strategies. Here are a few tips for each Zone:

Blue Zone

• Stretch and move your body

• Get a drink of water

• Take some deep breaths

Green Zone

• Take great notes in class

• Help another friend in need

• Sit up straight

Yellow Zone

• Ask for a break

• Squish a stress ball

• Hold something soft

Red Zone

• Six side of breathing

• Talk to someone

• Ask for a break

Bulletin Board by JB Westlake 3rd Grade Staff

Having visuals about Zones, tools and strategies, and problem size, in and around the classroom, or even at home can help children self-regulate. You can find more information on The Zones of Regulation™ by Leah Kuypers here: https://zonesofregulation.com/index.html

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