Definition of Self-Regulation:
‘… it is defined as the capacity as the capacity to manage one’s thoughts, feelings and actions in adaptive and flexible ways across a range of contexts.’ (Jude Nicholas)
Why is Self-Regulation Important?
‘Life is 10% what happens to use and 90% how we react to it.’ (Charles Swindoll)
The Zones of Regulation is a programme full of a range of activities to help children develop skills in the area of self-regulation. Self-regulation can go by many names, such as self-control, self-management and impulse control.
Some of the aims of The Zones of Regulation
We are teaching children to think about how their body feels and their emotions and have split them into four coloured zones.
Blue Zone
Green Zone
Yellow Zone
Red Zone
For each of the coloured zones, children are made aware of the different feelings that may be experienced when in the zone.
We support children in understanding that we all feel different emotions and that it is OK to feel all these emotions. Sometimes we may want to move Zone or change our emotions. To be able to do this we are learning strategies or tools for self-regulation and emotional control. It is important for children to understand that there is no ‘bad’ zone.
We know that we can’t change the way that children feel that children feel but we can help them manage their feelings.
Blue Zone tools: help wake up our bodies, feel better and regain focus.
Green Zone tools: help us stay calm, focused and feeling good. These are often proactive strategies.
Yellow Zone tools: help us regain control and calm ourselves.
Red Zone tools: help us stay safe and start to calm down.
What can we do to support children in getting back to the optimum Green zone ready for learning?
For the BLUE Zone – Increase Arousal
For the GREEN Zone - Maintaining
For the YELLOW Zone – Decrease Arousal
For the RED Zone – Decrease Arousal
Sensory Strategies to use to help children feel regulated
Try having a sensory box at home.
Thinking Strategies
Inner Coach vs Inner Critic
Children are supported in recognising and understanding how big the problem is. As children become confident in identifying the size of the problem, they explore expected and unexpected reactions. It is important to praise children for having expected reactions rather than just pointing out unexpected reactions.
Calming Strategies
Calming Activities
How can parents support The Zones of Regulation at home?
For more information on the ZONES
Zones of Regulation website: https://www.zonesofregulation.com/index.html
Video about being in the RED Zone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8srqhJAw2n8
Video about being in the GREEN Zone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iav5fgqqlj8
Video about being in the BLUE Zone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjz6-n74hDc
Video about being in the YELLOW Zone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCbSzTD4DCc