Zones of Regulation

Teach students to:

• Identify their feelings and levels of alertness
• Develop effective regulation tools
• Learn when and how to use the tools
• Problem solve positive solutions
• Understand how their behaviors influence thoughts and feelings
• Ultimately - develop independent regulation

Blue Zone: low level of arousal; not ready to learn; feels sad, sick, tired, bored, moving slowly.

Green Zone: calm state of alertness; optimal level to learn; feels happy, calm, feeling okay, focused.

Yellow Zone: heightened state of alertness; elevated emotions; has some control; feels frustrated, worried, silly/wiggly, excited, loss of some control.

Red Zone: heightened state of alertness and intense emotions; not an optimal level for learning; out of control; feels mad/angry, terrified, yelling/hitting, elated, out of control.

For the Blue Zone – increase arousal:

• Think happy thoughts
• Talk about your feelings
• Rub hands together
• Run on the spot
• Shoulder rub
• Ask for a hug
• Swinging or spinning
• Stretching or jumping jacks
• Strong scents
• Vibration
• Drink water
• Crunchy foods
• Bright lights
• Listening to loud music

For the Green Zone – maintaining:

• Keep your eyes on the teacher
• Remember your daily goals
• Finish your homework
• Think happy thoughts
• Be a good friend
• Help others
• Work hard
• Smile

For the Yellow – decrease arousal:

• Talk to my parents/friends/teacher
• Take 3 deep breaths
• Do a wall push up
• Use a fidget
• Go for a walk
• Take a break
• Read
• Deep pressure
• Slow movement
• Soft lighting
• Listen to music
• Chewy foods

For the Red Zones – decrease arousal:

• Take three deep breaths
• How big is my problem – the size of your reaction should match the size of the problem. How big do others see the problem? How big should your reaction be?
• Jump on a trampoline
• Relax your muscles
• Talk to an adult
• Sensory break
• Push the wall
• Count to 20
• Walk away
• STOP!
• Deep pressure
• Slow movement
• Soft lighting
• Listen to music
• Chewy foods

• Know yourself and how you react in difficult situations before dealing with your child’s behavior(s).
• Know your child’s sensory threshold. We all process sensory information differently and it impacts our reactivity to situations.
• Know your child’s triggers.
• Be consistent in managing your child’s behavior and use the same language you use at home.
• Empathize with your child and validate what they are feeling.
• Have clear boundaries/routines and always follow through.
• Do not deal with an angry, upset child when you are not yet calm yourself.
• Discuss strategies for the next time when you are in a similar situation.
• Remember to ask your child how their choices made you feel (empathy).
• Praise your child for using strategies. Encourage your child to take a sensory break to help regulate their bodies.

While it's not mandatory to use this program at home, you may like to try:

• Identifying your own feelings using the Zones language in front of your child (ex. “I’m feeling frustrated because… , I am in the Yellow Zone.”)
• Talking about which tool you will use to be in the appropriate Zone (ex. “I’m going to go for a walk because I need to get to the Green Zone.”)
• Providing positive reinforcement when your child is in the Green Zone and if they make efforts to stay in the Green Zone (ex. “I can see you are working really hard to stay in the Green Zone by…”)
• Labeling which Zones your child is in throughout the day (ex. “You look sleepy, I wonder if you are in the Blue Zone?”)
• Teaching your child which Zone tools they can use (ex. “It’s time for bed, let’s read a book together to get to the Blue Zone.”)
• Displaying and using the Zones visuals and tools in your home.

Click here for children's book recommendations to introduce/reinforce the concepts from the Zones of Regulation.