Understanding the Four Coloured Zones

Simply stated, The Zones of Regulation is a curriculum framework organized around four coloured Zones to describe our feelings, energy, and emotions. We learn to regulate our Zones to meet our goals and task demands, as well as support our overall well-being. Let’s review each of the four Zones we can use to understand and talk about our wide range of feelings, including examples of tools that can help to regulate each Zone. As educators, therapists, and caregivers, we can use The Zones to help build a common emotional language, connect as a community, and foster regulation skills that are essential to our children's growth.

All The Zones are Okay!

It is important to remember that there are NO BAD ZONES! Adults and children of all ages move through a wide range of emotions, energy, and alertness throughout the day. Our goal is to notice our feelings and regulate them in order to take care of ourselves and meet our goals. All feelings and Zones are a natural part of being human; sometimes we need to regulate them to navigate situations to get a desired outcome, and sometimes we don’t.

How Does it Support Children?

Backed by detailed research into neuroscience and the best ways to support children's emotional development, this approach enables children to: 

• Recognize and identify their own feelings.

• Understand that all feelings are valid.

• Develop strategies to move between zones.

• Improve their problem-solving skills.

• Enhance their self-regulation.

Our Approach at School

We are beginning to integrate the Zones of Regulation into our daily routines and lessons. Children will learn to identify their own zones and explore various tools and strategies to help them regulate their emotions. This will include activities like deep breathing, mindfulness exercises, and sensory strategies.

Supporting Your Child at Home

We believe that consistency between school and home is crucial for the success of this initiative. To support you in using the Zones of Regulation at home, we will be sharing information in the following ways:

• Newsletter Updates: We will include regular updates and tips in our weekly newsletter.

• Social Media: Look out for posts on our Facebook and Instagram pages, where we will share visual aids, resources, and practical advice.

• Website Resources: We will add resources to the school website, including downloadable materials and links to helpful websites.

• Parent Workshops (Future): We plan to host workshops in the future to provide a more in-depth understanding of the Zones of Regulation and how to implement them at home.

We encourage you to start conversations with your child about their feelings and the different zones. Ask them which zone they are in and explore strategies together to help them move to the Green Zone when needed.

We are excited about the positive impact the Zones of Regulation will have on our children's emotional well-being. We appreciate your support and look forward to working together to help our children thrive.

Parents' Evening 

We wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended our Parents' Evening this week. It was wonderful to see so many of you engaging with your child's teachers and learning about their progress. We value the strong partnership we have with you, and your involvement is crucial to your child's success.

The discussions were incredibly productive, and we appreciate your insightful questions and feedback. It's always a pleasure to share the achievements and progress of our pupils with you.

As always, please remember that our door is always open. Whether you have questions, concerns, or simply want to share a success story, we are here to help. Don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher or the school office. We're committed to working together to ensure every child at Wincham Community Primary School thrives.

Thank you once again for your continued support.

Local Support for Parents

There is a wealth of support for parents available online, beyond social media networks.  We try to share as much professional information as we can to support you at home.

Useful resources

CWAC Autism Service Family Support  Cheshire West & Chester's Autism Support team have identified a range of resources that other parents have found to be supportive.

Koala North West is a charity organisation that looks after the emotional wellbeing of families, offering practical support and solutions to everyday parenting and childcare.  Family Support - Koala North West