Zones of Regulation

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At Dovecotes Primary School, we recognise the importance of promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing to our students and their families. We aim to create an open culture around the discussion of mental health and wellbeing and to empower our children be able to regulate their emotions. By implementing the Zones of Regulation curriculum we aim to teach our pupils to identify emotions in themselves and others and provide them with bank of strategies to help regulate their emotions and improve their wellbeing. 

 

The Zones of Regulation is a programme that aims to help children notice the emotion they are feeling and then regulate themselves if they are feeling uncomfortable. 

 

The programme starts by helping children to identify which zone an emotion or feeling is in. 

  

Blue Zone 

This is where you would be if you are feeling: 

• tired 

• sad 

• bored 

• sick 

In general you are feeling slow and are mostly feeling uncomfortable. 

  

Green Zone 

This is where you feel: 

• happy 

• pleased 

• proud 

• content 

• calm 

• ready to learn 

This is the ideal zone for children to be in when in class, feeling comfortable. 

  

Yellow Zone 

This is when there is some loss of control 

You may feel: 

• worried 

• scared 

• frustrated 

• behave in a silly way 

• be overly excited 

In this zone you can be either comfortable or uncomfortable. 

  

Red Zone 

This is where there is a loss of control. 

You could be feeling: 

• rage 

• fury 

• elation 

• total fear 

  

The children explore these zones and learn to identify which zone they are in. This is supported by all staff and there are also posters in every room, a copy of which can be found at the bottom of this page. Sometimes children can’t or don’t want to name the emotion but they can identify which zone they are in. 

 

Children also learn that their feelings and emotions can have an impact on the children and adults around them. If you are in the red zone and yelling at your friend it is unlikely that your friend will be in the green zone. 

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Once children understand the concept of the zones they will they explore ways to help regulate themselves with the support of sensory devices and calming techniques. 

 

We want to help all children recognize when they are beginning to feel uncomfortable in the yellow zone and have a toolbox of ideas to help them regulate themselves. 

 

At Home 

 

You can support you child/children at home by asking them which zone they are in and using I wonder:  “I wonder if you are in the yellow zone at the moment, you seem a bit worried.’  

 

Naming the emotion will help them with their emotional literacy and show them that you can see they are feeling uncomfortable. 

 

How they physically feel in each zone e.g. in yellow zone I may have butterflies in my stomach or have sweaty palms (if feeling anxious). 

 

Then discuss how to help them move into the Green zone e.g. if I was in the Yellow zone and feeling anxious I might find competing some breathing techniques helps me get back into the green zone. 

 

Some children find colouring, play dough, using stress balls, time at the park or reading really beneficial. You could also try using relaxing music, children’s yoga for deep breathing exercises or mindfulness. 

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The key message is to help your child understand that it is ok to feel angry, be worried or scared but they do need to find ways to help themselves manage those uncomfortable feelings and self-sooth. This will also help them with their self-esteem and resilience. 

  

I hope you find this information useful, please contact school if you would like any more information about the zones and ways to use them. 

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For more information please view Zones of Regulation Parent Workshop. and Place2Be's - Tips for Parents & Carers.

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Suicide Prevention

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Talking about suicide can be really difficult and something we sometimes try to avoid due to worry that we may say the wrong thing. Mind have put together some useful advice and practical suggestions on how to support someone that may be feeling suicidal.

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Mind - Supporting Someone Who Feels Suicidal

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Below is a booklet explaining how to support someone who feels suicidal, giving practical suggestions for what you can do and where you can go for support.

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