Wellbeing
The Zones of Regulation
Feelings can be big or small, and sometimes hard to explain. The Zones help children talk about feelings and learn what to do to get back to the Green Zone. Our goal is to help every child feel calm, focused, and ready to learn. We use the Zones of Regulation to help students recognize emotions, co-regulate with adult support, and build self-regulation. You may have seen personalised 'Zones Toolkit' in classrooms and on Seesaw.
Why is Self-Regulation Important?
Everyone needs to manage their feelings and behaviour. When we notice we are upset or worried, we can do something to feel calm again. Some children find this harder and need extra help. That’ s why we teach self-regulation in school.
How can you use this at home:
- Use the Zones language to articulate how you are feeling.
- “Which Zone are you in?” "I feel like I'm in the blue zone so I might go for a walk."
- As a family, organise time for a 'Zones check in' to share how everyone is feeling. It could be on the way home from school, at dinner, before bed. Whatever works for you!
Practice co-regulation strategies together and chose a favourite.
Some simple and quick strategies are linked here.
These simple steps help your child build emotional awareness and resilience—one small step at a time. If you would like access to a hardcopy Zones toolkit for your home, email Kate directly: kate.molloy@education.vic.gov.au