What are the Zones of Regulation?
Zones of Regulation is a self regulation approach to help teach young people the ways we can categorise all our feelings and emotions in to four concrete coloured zones.
The Zones framework provides strategies to help teach young people to become more aware of, and independent in, controlling their emotions and impulses, managing their sensory needs, and improving their ability to problem solve conflicts. Everyone experiences all of the Zones - the Red and Yellow Zones are not the “bad” or “naughty” Zones. All of the Zones are expected at one time or another. The Zones of Regulation is intended to be neutral and not communicate judgment, and helps students work towards being independent in self-regulation.
The Zones can be compared to traffic lights. When given a green sign or in the Green Zone, you are “good to go”. A yellow sign means be aware or take caution, which applies to the Yellow Zone. A red sign means stop, and when you are in the Red Zone this often is the case. The Blue Zone is where you may need to rest or re-energize. All of the zones are natural to experience, but the framework focuses on teaching students how to recognise and manage their zone based on the environment and its demands and the people around them.
The Zones in focus
Red Zone is used to describe extremely heightened states of alertness and intense emotions. A person may be elated or experiencing anger, rage, devastation or terror when in the Red Zone.
Yellow Zone is also used to describe a heightened state of alertness and elevated emotions; however, one has more control when they are in the Yellow Zone. A person may be experiencing stress, frustration, anxiety, excitement, silliness, the wiggles or nervousness when in the Yellow Zone.
Green Zone is used to describe a calm state of alertness. A person may be described as happy, focused, content or ready to learn when in the Green Zone. This is the zone where optimal learning occurs.
Blue Zone is used to describe low states of alertness and down feelings such as when one feels sad, tired, sick or bored.How do we use Zones of Regulation within school?
Zones of Regulation is implemented within the curriculum. Students and staff are encouraged to use Zones of Regulation vocabulary. For example, “This is really frustrating me and making me go into the Yellow Zone. I need to use a tool to calm down. I will take some deep breaths.”
Children have visual tools such as signs they hold up or four different coloured cups Red, Yellow, Green and Blue (to symbalise the different zones) stacked on their table. They can move the corresponding coloured cup to the top of the stack to symbalise the zone they are feeling. Teachers can then discuss the zone they are feeling as well as implementing the toolkit to help with self-regulation.