Zones of Regulation - A Parents' Guide

At Wincham Community Primary School, we know that for children to be successful learners, they first need to be happy, settled, and emotionally regulated. You may have heard your child talking about being in the "Blue Zone" or the "Green Zone." This is part of our whole-school approach to emotional wellbeing using The Zones of Regulation.

This guide is designed to help you understand what this framework is, how we use it in school, and—most importantly—how you can use it at home to support your child.

What are The Zones?

The Zones of Regulation is a framework designed to help children categorise the complex feelings they experience into four simple, coloured zones. It is based on the idea that all feelings are okay, but we need to learn how to manage our behaviours in response to those feelings.

The Zones are often compared to traffic signs:

• 🟦 The Blue Zone (Rest Area): This is when our body is running slow. We might feel tired, sad, sick, bored, or exhausted. This is a low-energy state where we might need to rest or re-energise.

• 🟩 The Green Zone (Go): This is when we are "good to go." We feel happy, calm, focused, proud, or content. This is the zone where optimal learning happens.

• 🟨 The Yellow Zone (Caution): This is a state of higher energy. We might feel frustrated, worried, silly, wiggly, or excited. This isn't a "bad" zone, but it is a sign that we are starting to lose a little control and might need to take caution or slow down.

• 🟥 The Red Zone (Stop): This is a state of very intense energy. We might feel anger, rage, terror, or elation. In this zone, we often feel out of control.

Important Note: There are no "bad" zones. It is natural to experience all of these zones at different times. Our goal isn't to force children to be "Green" all the time, but to help them recognise which zone they are in and use a tool to help them manage it.

The Toolbox: How We Manage the Zones

Recognising the Zone is Step 1. Step 2 is using a "tool" to help regulate. In school, we help children build a personal "toolbox" of strategies.

• For the Blue Zone: We might need to "wake up" our bodies. Tools include: getting a drink of water, doing some star jumps, or stretching.

• For the Green Zone: We want to maintain this! Tools include: positive self-talk, helping others, or just focusing on our work.

• For the Yellow Zone: We need to calm or focus our energy. Tools include: deep breathing (like Lazy-8 breathing), using a fidget toy, or taking a "heavy work" break (like pushing against a wall).

• For the Red Zone: We need safety and de-escalation. Tools include: finding a quiet space, deep belly breathing, or counting to 10.

Implementing The Zones at Home

Using the Zones of Regulation at home creates a consistent language between school and home, which makes a huge difference for your child. Here is how you can get started:

1. Create a "Check-In" Culture

Instead of asking "Why are you doing that?", try asking "What Zone are you in right now?" You can put up a simple chart on the fridge with the four colours. Encourage your child to move a magnet or a sticky note to the colour that matches their mood. This helps them pause and identify their feeling before acting on it.

2. Model it as a Whole Family

Children learn best by watching us. If parents only talk about the children's zones, it can feel like a punishment. Try narrating your own emotional journey:

• "I’m feeling a bit Yellow right now because we are running late and I’m worried we’ll miss the bus. I’m going to take three deep breaths to help me get back to Green."

• "I’m feeling really Blue today because I didn't sleep well. I think I’m going to go to bed early tonight to take care of myself."

• "I am in the Red Zone because I shouted. I need to take a moment by myself to calm down before we talk."

By doing this, you show your child that everyone experiences big feelings and that adults have to use tools to manage them too.

3. Build a Home Toolbox

Sit down with your child when they are calm (in the Green Zone) and create a list of things that help them at home.

• Does your child find music calming? Add it to the toolbox.

• Do they need to jump on the trampoline to get energy out? Add it.

• Do they like a tight hug or a heavy blanket? Add it.

Top Tips for Success

• Timing is Everything: Do not try to teach regulation strategies when your child is already in the Red Zone. When a child is "Red," their thinking brain is offline. They cannot learn or reason. Focus on safety and calming down first. Talk about what happened later, when they are back in the Green Zone.

• Validate the Feeling: Remember, the feeling is okay; it’s the behaviour we manage.

  • Instead of: "Stop crying, it's not a big deal."

  • Try: "I can see you are in the Blue Zone and feeling sad. That’s okay. Would a hug help?"

• Change Your Language: Try to avoid saying "Calm down." Instead, ask: "I see you are in the Yellow Zone. What tool can we use to help?" This shifts the focus from being "naughty" to solving a problem.

• Praise the Process: If you see your child taking a deep breath or walking away when they are frustrated, praise them specifically for it: "I saw you were getting frustrated, but you used your breathing tool. That was amazing self-regulation!"

A Note on Expectations: It Takes Time

Please remember that emotional regulation is a skill, just like learning to read or ride a bike. It takes years of practice and brain development.

Introducing the Zones won't stop tantrums or difficulties overnight. There will still be days where the Red Zone takes over, and that is normal. The goal is simply to help your child begin to understand themselves better and, over time, develop the resilience to handle life’s ups and downs.

At Wincham, we are on this journey with you. If you have any questions about how we support your child’s wellbeing, please don't hesitate to speak to your class teacher.