When we are stressed or upset, it can be easy to allow our emotions to take over our actions. Some children can go from 0 to 10 within seconds while others have strategies to support them when they have big emotions. Much of the emotion to response time is linked to whether a child has and can use a tool box of calming and regulation strategies that they implement depending on the situation. This is also known as self regulation; the ability to achieve the preferred state of alertness for the given situation both physical and emotional.
At Unley Primary we have implemented whole school language linked to the Zones of Regulation that support children to self regulate. These zones allow children to identify an emotion, recognise how it is affecting them and align this feeling with a colour.
Blue Zone: Used to describe a low state of alertness. The Blue Zone is used to describe when one feels sad, tired, sick, or bored.
Green Zone: Used to describe the ideal state of alertness. A person may be described as calm, happy, focused, or content when he or she is in the Green Zone. The student feels a strong sense of internal control when in the Green Zone.
Yellow Zone: Used to describe a heightened state of alertness. A person may be experiencing stress, frustration, anxiety, excitement, silliness, or fear when in the Yellow Zone. The student’s energy is elevated yet he or she feels some sense of internal control in the Yellow Zone.
Red Zone: Used to describe an extremely heightened state of alertness. A person may be experiencing anger, rage, explosive behavior, panic, extreme grief, terror, or elation when in the Red Zone and feels a loss of control.
When a child has linked their feeling to a zone, they are able to use a range of taught strategies to support them in making a strong choice in how they respond to a situation. Strategies to self-regulate could include; a breathing technique, going to have a drink, talking to a trusted friend or adult, having some alone time, listening to some music or maybe cuddling a toy. Attached is the zones poster we use at school that you may like to talk though this with your child at home.