At St Lawrence we use Zones of Regulation to:

• Increase self-awareness and social and emotional skills
• A common language for communication, problem solving, and emotional understanding
• More time spent on learning instead of on behavior management
• A healthier, more inclusive school climate

What are the zones?
There are four zones to describe how your brain and body feel.

Blue Zone – Your body is running slow, such as when you are tired, sick, sad or bored.

Green Zone – Like a green light, you are “good to go.”  Your body may feel happy, calm and focused.

Yellow Zone – This zone describes when you start to lose control, such as when you are frustrated, anxious, worried, silly or surprised.  Use caution when you are in this zone. – think about your Zones Toolbox.

Red Zone – This zone is for extreme emotions such as anger and aggression.  When you are in this zone, you have trouble making good decisions and should STOP – take Time Out!

Tool Kit

A tool kit is personalised strategies to support with emotions and bring us back to where we want to be.  Once a child is aware of some of their triggers they can begin to work on an emotional ‘tool kit’.  This is a bank of ideas/exercises or methods they can use when they sense their emotions have been triggered to keep control of their emotions. 

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

• Create a 'At Home Tool Kit' 
• Identify your own feelings using Zones 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 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 with your child in discussion around Zones when they are in the Red Zone is unlikely to be effective. You need to be discussing the different Zones and tools they can use when they are more regulated/calm.
• Teach your child which tools they can use (E.g. “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 the Green Zone?”
• Modeling is important to remember to show children how to use tools to get back to the Green Zone. You might say “I am going to make myself a glass of water and some 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