Z is for Zones of Regulation: Building Skills

 I saved one of the best for last!

Zones of Regulation is a tool that helps children to identify their emotional state which impacts their availability to be open to the learning opportunities in front of them.   When a child is in the red zone, it is NOT the time to attempt a challenging task with them.  First, they need something that will be soothing so that they can get back into a well-regulated state.  Only then are they ready to be with you/in the moment for the next learning opportunity.

We all know we have on days and off days.  Sometimes our productivity and intellectual ability amaze even us whereas other days we are shocked by how many errors we are making and how little is being accomplished in spite of going through our usual motions.  Sometimes our mood is effected by the events and sometimes the events are effected by our mood.  Regardless, we need to pause, take inventory of what is happening and why so we can address it and do better.

Another tool that helps with this is the ABC tool.  What is the Antecedent to what we are seeing?  What happened just prior that may have contributed to the problem?  Was the child hungry? Did someone just tease him? Did she forget her book at home?  B is for Behaviour. What are you seeing happen?  Did the child bite? Fall to the ground? Run away? Scream? C is for Consequence.  Was there one?  Did the child inadvertently get the attention they were seeking? Did they manage to avoid the task they didn't like? Did they get removed from their friends for a 'time out'?  The patterns that become evident through the ABCs over time helps you to understand what causes a child to be in a certain zone so that you can establish routines and strategies to help keep the child managing optimally.

The zones are divided into four coloured categories.

Red Zone -Angry

Blue Zone - Sad or Bored

Yellow Zone - Managing okay but may need support

Green Zone - Happy

It is pretty simple vocabulary for a child to identify they are in a particular zone but being given permission to identify it and share it with others verbally helps to open up further discussion about why they are in that zone and how to move forward.

For example, if they enter a class and check in saying they are in the blue zone, you can add in a fun activity to cheer them up or a special 1to1 time of joke telling.  But if they say they are in the green zone, then you know this is the perfect time to time that harder math question or to practice a challenging social skill.  

When a child is getting frustrated they can use the words yellow zone or red zone to tell others to give them space or provide help. It is a warning for some and a full stop to further interaction for others until they are doing better.  It is critical to give children tools like the zones of regulation because it is a simple to understand way to avoid further escalations and identify needs for support before self-control is lost and the resulting behaviours have negative consequences not just for the individual but for others as well. 

This is a much bigger topic but one I hope this blog will encourage you to research further.  Even very little ones can point to an angry red face or a smiley green face to express their mood and feelings. Yes, their behaviours may also be speaking loud and clear but tools like this give them a voice too and another way to communicate their thoughts and feelings simply and effectively.  In time, these constructive expressions can replace the behavioural outbursts and will help people understand one another and what triggers their moods.

And.... for those arguing that it is not a literacy-based skill, I disagree.  They are 'reading' their emotions and matching them to a formatted tool with corresponding visual and written descriptions. They are learning words to identify their zone of regulation. They are also working on their emotional state so they are calm and present during a literacy activity so that they can make the most of it.

This social communication is powerful and empathy building.  I highly suggest you incorporate this building skill into your repertoire!