Embedded Files
The book is accessible in the Zen Zone cupboard. If you borrow it, please return it after use.
The Zones of Regulation is the original framework and curriculum (Kuypers, 2011) that develops awareness of feelings, energy and alertness levels while exploring a variety of tools and strategies for regulation, prosocial skills, self-care, and overall wellness.
The curriculum provides an easy way to think and talk about how we feel on the inside and sort these feelings into four coloured Zones, all of which are expected in life. Once we understand our feelings and zones, we can learn to use tools/strategies to manage our different Zones in order to meet goals like doing schoolwork or other tasks, managing big feelings, and healthy relationships with others. The simple, common language and visual structure of The Zones of Regulation helps make the complex skill of regulation more concrete for learners and those who support them.
At Kellands, we have adopted a school-wide approach to Personal, Social and Emotional education and the Zones of Regulation is at its foundation.
All planning and resources for Zones of Regulation can be found on the shared googledrive HERE.
PRESENTATION DOWNLOAD
PRESENTATION DOWNLOAD
INSET staff training on HWB provision at Kellands School including important information about the Zones of Regulation.
Kellands - HWB Inset 21st August 2023.pptx
By introducing The Zones of Regulation, we can connect our learners with language, tools, and strategies to boost positive mental health and regulation.
The Zones of Regulation is a framework and curriculum for simplifying and giving common language to our emotions, giving us a non-judgmental way to communicate about our feelings and internal state.
When we understand the feelings in our body, we can sort them into 4 Zones: Blue Zone, Green Zone, Yellow Zone or Red Zone. This is the overarching framework that makes the complexity of emotional literacy and regulation more systemised and easy to teach, practice, and learn.
Once we are able to identify our Zone, we can decide if we want or need to use a tool/strategy to take care of these feelings given the situation.
Language of the Zones
Language of the Zones
The most powerful aspect of The Zones is utilising the language yourself. This provides modelling for your learners, creates a safe space for them to engage in this work, and shows that you value feelings over behaviour.
Identify your own feelings using Zones language in front of a child
(e.g. “I’m frustrated, I am in the yellow zone”)
Label what zones a child is in throughout the day
(e.g. “you look sleepy, are you in the blue zone?”)
Share how you feelings can affect your behaviour
(e.g. “I know I'm in the yellow zone just now because I'm really nervous and I keep shaking my leg when I get nervous”)
GET IN THE Zones
GET IN THE Zones
There is no ‘bad’ Zone.
(Respond in the same way to Red Zone emotions as you would Green Zone)
Everyone experiences all of the Zones at different times and in different circumstances.
We can’t change the way children feel BUT we can help them manage their feelings/states and behaviours. “It’s OK to be angry but it is not OK to hit…”
You can be in more than one Zone at a time
(eg. sad AND angry).
If a child is confidently using words to describe their emotions, they don’t need to revert to Zones language HOWEVER it is useful for them to know the strategy groups that will help them (eg. sick or tired = blue zone strategies).
If a child is in the Red Zone…
• Limit verbals – this is not a teachable moment.
• Discuss use of tools when child is regulated.
• Plan for if/when child is in Red Zone.
“Wonder if this strategy would help…?”
It is incredibly hard to do, but if we can try to respond to our children's emotions rather than the behaviours, it will make a lasting difference.
how do we teach the zones of regulation?
how do we teach the zones of regulation?
2022.
creating a visual
creating a visual
cAlming techniques
cAlming techniques
lessons and key texts
lessons and key texts
thinking strategies
thinking strategies
sensory supports
sensory supports
QUALITY ASSURANCE
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Quality assurance of Zones of Regulation as discussed with sample groups of pupils from each year group in October 2022.
Zones of Regulation QA 2022 - Children's Voice.pdf
“Every small interaction has the power to be healing. All those little light bulb moments, every smile and warm welcome in the morning, a predictable daily routine, a reassuring hand – can all reduce trauma.” (Treisman, 2017)
The Zones incorporates numerous best practices for instruction with learners with neurodiversity, please see a handy breakdown below when using the original Zones of Regulation curriculum book (Kellands copy can be found in the Zen Zone).
Adapted/Expanded by Kellands School, based on the original work, The Zones of Regulation Curriculum by Leah Kuypers 2011, ©Think Social Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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