At Speen School, we recognise the importance of promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing to our students and their families. We aim to create an open culture around the discussion of mental health and wellbeing and to empower our children to be able to regulate their emotions.

The Zones of Regulation is an internationally renowned intervention which helps children to manage difficult emotions, known as ‘self-regulation’. 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. From time to time, all of us (including adults) find it hard to manage strong feelings such as worry, anger, restlessness, fear or tiredness, and this stops us from getting on with our day effectively. Children who feel these emotions often find it hard to learn and concentrate in school. The Zones of Regulation aims to teach children strategies to help them cope with these feelings so they can get back to feeling calm and ready to learn. These coping strategies are called ‘self-regulation’.

The Zones of Regulation is a curriculum based around the use of four colours to help children self-identify how they’re feeling and categorise it based on colour. The curriculum also helps children better understand their emotions, sensory needs and thinking patterns. The children learn different strategies to cope and manage their emotions based on which colour zone they’re in. Additionally, the Zones of Regulation helps children to recognise their own triggers, learn to read facial expressions, develop problem-solving skills, and become more attuned to how their actions affect other people.

 

                     

 

What does it look like in school and how do we use it?

Children are encouraged to talk about their feelings!

There is progression across the curriculum with children in Early Years learning to identify different emotions to children in Key Stage 1, discussing strategies to navigate their feelings.

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

• Identify your own feelings using zone language in front of your child (e.g.: I’m 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?”)

• Engaging your child in discussions about Zones when they are in the Red Zone is unlikely to be effective. You need to discuss the different zones and tools they can use when they are more regulated / calm.

• Teach your child which tools they can use. (eg: “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.