Mental Health & Wellbeing 

Navigating the Zones of Regulation: Supporting Your Child at Home

Helping children manage their emotions can be challenging, but families play a key role in guiding them toward emotional regulation. At Ripponlea Primary School, we use the Zones of Regulation framework, which divides emotional states into four colour-coded zones. 

Parents can also use this approach at home to help children recognize, understand, and manage their feelings. This article explains the zones and provides sensory strategies linked to four key sensory systems that you can try at home to support your child.

What Are the Four Zones?

Blue Zone

• Feelings: Sad, tired, bored, sick
• Goal: Regain energy and motivation

Green Zone

• Feelings: Calm, focused, ready to learn
• Goal: Maintain this state

Yellow Zone

• Feelings: Anxious, excited, frustrated, nervous
• Goal: Slow down and regain control

Red Zone

• Feelings: Angry, overwhelmed, out of control
• Goal: Calm down safely

Four Sensory Systems and Regulation Strategies for Families

Using sensory activities can help children move between zones and stay regulated. Below are practical strategies aligned with four sensory systems.

1. Proprioceptive System (Body Awareness)

This system helps children understand where their body is in space and can promote calmness or alertness.

Blue Zone Strategy:

• Try animal walks (bear crawls, crab walks) to boost energy.
• Use a mini trampoline or encourage jumping games to wake up the body.

Red/Yellow Zone Strategy:

• Use weighted blankets or pillows for deep pressure to calm the nervous system.
• Offer a tight, grounding bear hug (if your child is comfortable).

2. Vestibular System (Movement and Balance)

The vestibular system helps children regulate through movement. Too much or too little movement can impact emotional states.

Blue Zone Strategy:

• Use a swing or rocking chair to slowly energize your child.
• Encourage spinning in place (if they enjoy it) to re-energize.

Yellow/Red Zone Strategy:

• Engage in slow, rhythmic rocking (in a chair or side-to-side sways) to promote calmness.
• Create a cosy space with soft cushions where they can lie down and feel balanced.

3. Tactile System (Touch)

Touch can provide comfort or stimulate focus, depending on the activity.

Blue Zone Strategy:

• Use textured objects, like stress balls or putty, to wake up their hands.
• Engage in sensory-rich activities such as sand play or painting.

Yellow/Red Zone Strategy:

• Encourage your child to wrap themselves in a blanket for soothing tactile input.
• Try fidget toys or sensory boxes to reduce overwhelming emotions.

4. Auditory System (Sound)

Sound can have a powerful effect on mood and energy.

Blue Zone Strategy:

• Play upbeat, rhythmic music to lift your child’s energy.
• Use singing or clapping games to promote engagement.

Yellow/Red Zone Strategy:

• Try noise-cancelling headphones to create a quiet space for calming down.
• Play calming music, like nature sounds or lullabies, to slow racing thoughts.

Co-Regulation: Partnering with Your Child

When your child is struggling with emotions, co-regulation—where an adult models calm behaviour—is essential.

• Name the Zone: Help your child identify their current zone (e.g., “I see that you might be in the Yellow Zone. How can we slow things down?”).
• Model Calm Breathing: Use slow breathing techniques and invite your child to join in. For example, “Let’s take three deep belly breaths together.”
• Validate Feelings: Let your child know it’s okay to feel the way they do (e.g., “It’s normal to feel frustrated sometimes. I’m here to help.”).
• Create a Routine: Build sensory breaks into your child’s day, such as five minutes of movement after school or calming activities before bedtime.

Building Emotional Awareness Together

Learning to recognise and manage emotions takes time, but with consistent strategies at home, children develop the tools they need to stay regulated. By using sensory-based activities aligned with the Zones of Regulation and modelling co-regulation, parents can empower children to navigate emotions in a positive way.

If you’d like more resources or strategies, feel free to reach out to our Student Wellbeing Team and Mrs Campbell! We're here to support your family every step of the way.

Helping Students Develop Organisational Skills: A Key to Success

At Ripponlea Primary School, fostering independence in students goes beyond academic achievement—it involves teaching essential life skills such as organisation. Developing good organisational habits from a young age helps children feel more in control of their schedules, reduces stress, and boosts confidence. While teachers assist students in navigating timetables, managing belongings, and sticking to routines at school, families play an equally important role in reinforcing these skills at home.

Why Start Early?

Organisation is not an innate skill; it must be developed intentionally over time. Teaching students how to organise their schoolwork, manage time, and care for personal belongings builds autonomy and helps them feel responsible for their learning. The earlier children start practising these habits, the easier it becomes to manage increasing academic and social responsibilities as they grow older.

Strategies to Support Organisational Skills at Home and School

Set Up a Consistent Routine

Children thrive on routines. At school, teachers structure the day with predictable timetables and expectations, which helps students know what to expect. Parents can complement this by establishing consistent morning and evening routines at home, such as setting out uniforms and packing bags the night before.

Use Checklists and Timetables

Visual reminders are powerful tools. Encourage students to keep a checklist of daily tasks (e.g., "pack lunchbox," "finish homework") and use a family calendar to mark important dates. At school, teachers guide students to follow timetables, but parents can extend this skill by having children practice tracking activities at home.

Teach Accountability Through Natural Consequences

Organisation is also about responsibility. If a child forgets to bring their reader or lunchbox, gently reinforce the importance of planning ahead. Allowing children to experience natural consequences helps them understand the impact of their actions and take ownership of their responsibilities.

Encourage Autonomy with Small Responsibilities

Children feel empowered when they are given age-appropriate responsibilities. For younger students, this might mean packing their own school bag or choosing their clothes for the day. For older students, it could involve managing homework schedules or remembering due dates independently.

Provide Tools to Stay Organised

Equip children with tools such as folders, labelled containers, and personal planners. At school, teachers encourage students to use pencil cases and workbooks effectively. Parents can support this by organising a designated homework area with the necessary supplies, and teaching children how to use these tools efficiently.

Model Organisational Behaviour

Children often learn by watching adults. Demonstrating good organisational habits, such as planning grocery lists or tidying up shared spaces, can inspire children to adopt similar behaviours.

Celebrate Progress and Effort

Organisation is a skill that takes time to develop. Acknowledge and celebrate small successes, such as remembering to pack everything for school or completing a project on time. Positive reinforcement motivates children to continue improving their habits.

Building the Foundation for Lifelong Success

By nurturing organisational skills early, we help students feel more capable of managing their workload and personal responsibilities. Both teachers and parents must provide guidance while giving children opportunities to practice autonomy. 

When students are accountable for their belongings and routines, they build resilience and develop skills that will benefit them not only in school but throughout their lives.

Together, let’s support our students in becoming organised, independent learners—ready to take on challenges with confidence!