The Zones of Regulation (written and created by Leah Kuypers) 

At Trinity School, we use the Zones of Regulation throughout our day in order to support ourselves and each other in developing awareness and strategies in self and co regulation. Each classroom has a regulation area which children are able to access and the language and concepts of the zones are woven throughout our conversations over the school day. There are visual supports to help our thinking and talking about the zones around the classrooms.  Each child has a Zones of Regulation personal toolbox which they complete in their first few days of the school year, in this the children consider which (school – appropriate) strategies work for their own self-regulation. 

A particularly useful concept is considering the size of the problem and the size of the reaction.  If the problem is a small one, does our reaction match this? 

At the bottom of the page are a variety of downloadable resources which can help to support understanding and regulation at home as well.  

Further information from the Zones of Regulation website: https://zonesofregulation.com/  

Why Teach Self-Regulation? 

Regulation is something everyone continually works on whether we are aware of it or not. We all encounter trying circumstances that can test our limits. If we can recognize when we are becoming less regulated, we are able to do something about it to manage our feelings and get ourselves to a healthy place. This comes more naturally for some, but for others it is a skill that needs more attention and practice. This is the goal of The Zones of Regulation​. 

Sorting Our Emotions Into Four Zones 

Feelings are complicated. They come in different sizes, intensities, and levels of energy that are unique within our brains and bodies. To make them easier to talk about, think about, and regulate, The Zones of Regulation organizes our feelings, states of alertness, and energy levels into four coloured Zones – Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red. The simple, common language and visual structure of The Zones of Regulation helps make the complex skill of regulation more concrete for learners and those who support them. We learn to regulate our Zones to meet our goals and task demands, as well as support our overall well-being.