At Old Mill we use an approach called 'Zones of Regulation' to support children’s well-being and emotional development.

What are the Zones of Regulation?

Zones of Regulation is a self-regulation approach to help teach young people how we can categorise all of our feelings and emotions into four coloured zones: Blue, Green, Yellow and Red.

The zones framework provides strategies to help teach young people to become more aware of, and independent in, controlling their emotions and impulses, managing their sensory needs, and improving their ability to problem solve conflicts. It teaches and guides children to respond to their emotions in safe and expected ways. 

Everyone experiences all of the zones – the Red and Yellow are not the “bad” or “naughty” zones. All of the zones are expected at one time of another, we normalise all emotions. The Zones of Regulation is intended to be neutral and not communicate judgement, but helps young people work towards being independent in self-regulation.

The Zones in Focus

The Blue Zone is used to describe low states of alertness and down feelings. A person may be unwell, tired, sad or fed-up.

The Green Zone is used to describe a calm state of alertness. A person may be happy, feeling good, calm and ready to learn. This is the zone where optimal learning occurs. 

The Yellow Zone is used to describe a heightened state of alertness and elevated emotions; however, a person still has some level of control. A person may be annoyed, over-excited, get silly or be very wriggly.

The Red Zone is used to describe extremely heightened states of alertness and intense emotions. A person may be angry, furious, have had enough and be out of control.

These four zones are displayed in school like this:

Why do we use the Zones?

Sometimes young people struggle to recognise their emotions, especially the tools needed for self-regulation.

The Zones of Regulation is designed to help children recognise their emotions and how this influences their behaviour, as well as learning to understand how their behaviour impacts themselves and those around them, and learn what tools they can use to manage their feelings and emotional states.

How do we use the Zones within school?

Zones of Regulation is implemented within the curriculum and within classrooms. Children and staff are encouraged to use the Zones of Regulation vocabulary. For example:

“This is really frustrating me and I feel like I am going into the yellow zone. I need to use a calming down tool. I will do some deep breathing.”

Children will discuss the zones they are feeling, as well as developing tool-kits to help with self-regulation.