Content of this article:Various printable Zones of Regulation activities and worksheets that can be used by counselors, teachers or parents as supplemental activities to teach and reinforce concepts from The Zones of Regulation curriculum.
The key to successfully teaching the Zones of Regulation is spending a lot of time solidifying the concepts of the Zones through repetition and play-based learning activities.
These regulatory zone activities and printables will help you.
If you're new to regulatory zones, make sureFirst read this overview of zones for parents.
There are a few key components of the zones that your child should learn in order to be successful.
Regulation Zones Learning Objectives:
- What the four zones are and what emotions are associated with each zone.
- How to recognize which zoneOfare in
- What triggers are causing you to move out of the green zone?
- How to recognize which zoneOthersare in
- Strategies for movingback to green zoneout ofGelb,Blau, orRot
- Expected behavior vs. unexpected behavior
- size of the problem
- Howyour actionsaffect what zone other people are in (pleasant and unpleasant thoughts)
Areas of regulatory activity
These regulatory zone activities and printables support all of the above learning objectives.
1. 22-page zone pack
I created this 22-page bundle of regulatory free zone printables to make it a little easier for people to download many of the items from this list. It includes all the freebies in the list, but you will also find some free printables exclusive to this pack such as B. “Size of the problem” activities and two different graphs of the four zones.
You can download this free pack here.
1. What zone would I be in if…
This is a simple printable matching game to help kids think about the zones. There are 30 cards, each with a different scenario and a matching main page with the four zones and instructions.
Have your child choose a card, read it, and then place it on the color zoneShethink they would be there if the scenario happened to them.
There are no right or wrong answers in the game, the sole purpose is to get kids thinking about the zones and their feelings.
What zone would I be in if...
2. Which zone are YOU in?
This game is very similar to the first game, only this time there are different pictures on the cards of the faces of different characters.
The aim of the game is for your child to analyze the character's face to determine which zone it is in.
Then they should place the image on the correct color zone.
This game helps childrentake perspectivesand encourages them to pay attention to and recognize how other people are feeling.
What zone are YOU in?
3. Regulatory Zones Bingo
Zones BingofromThe Regulatory Zoneswas adapted by Alex Hirsh for students familiar with the visual elements of Boardmaker® Feelings. I love this activity because it helps children using Boardmaker visualizations (often children with autism) become familiar with the symbols for different emotions.
You can print Zones Bingo from the official Zones websiteHere.
4. When I get angry...
Help your child identify what is angry (red zone)feels likein her body.
Not everyone has the same physiological response to anger. Still, there are some fairly common reactions, and we all experience some of them.
Go through each of the anger cues on the free printable with your child and if they feel the statement is true for them when they are angry, color them red.
There are no right or wrong answers, everyone experiences anger differently and this will help your child be more aware of what happens to them when they are in the red zone.
When I'm angry...
5. When I'm sad
If children are often sad, they really arebehaviorfurious. It may be because they don't really know what's going on inside them.
This coloring activity helps kids think about some of the hard feelings associated with sadness that they may feel too vulnerable to share out loud with others.
It creates an opportunity to open up a conversation about sadness where you can reinforce thatSadness is normal, temporary, and I'm sure they can share that feeling with you.
When I am sad …
6. Anger and Sadness Brochure for Kids
Social scripts, lessons, discussion questions, and activities related to managing anger and sadness.Fillable PDF format.
- feeling crazy social script (4 $ wert)
- Sad Social Script (4 $ wert)
- Grumpy Social Script (4 $ wert)
- Dealing with anger and sadness ($6 Wert)
- Using the Self-Control Script and the STOP Strategy (3 $ wert)
- Time & Space Lesson and Discussion (3 $ wert)
- Expressing feelings with I-statements, lessons, and activities (5 $ Wert)
- FEEL-mometer – measuring the intensity of feelings (5 $ Wert)
7. Interactive Zone Pack
This package is available from Teachers Pay Teachers. It contains:
- Interactive nameplates
- "What zone am I in?" colorful reference cards
- "How big is the problem?" colorful poster with additional instructional image
- "What triggers me?" graphic organizer
- Daily visual schedule card
This pack is beautifully illustrated and the interactive activities and reference images are great for elementary age children.
The package is available here on TPT.
8. Don't take the bait
Don't Take The Bait is a game I first played with my own kids after my son brought it home from school. They played this game at school as part ofherCurriculum for Regulatory Zones.
This game helps kids identify their triggers. In the game, the “bait” is the trigger.
Children have to choosean effective coping strategyto use instead of reacting negatively to the trigger (bait).
Children can act out different situations, demonstrate coping strategies and even have a little fun acting out negative reactions during play. It's a fun way to practice the skills covered by the zones.
You can get this game from TpT here.
9. Wheel of Emotions for Children
This emotion wheel is loosely based on Plutchik's emotion wheel, but is themed around the regulation zones. make child friendly.
It was developed as a tool for children who can recognize which zone they are in to use more complex emotional words to describe their emotions.
Emotion line
10. Communication: Aggressive vs. Assertive
This four-sided printout can be used as a tool to teach children to communicate confidently and not aggressively. (This is also included in the Social Skills Mega Bundle,learn more here)
This is helpful for children who become explosive if not asserted.
Assertive vs. aggressive communication skills
11. Name one thing...
This activity is available in fillable PDF format, which is great for those doing distance learning or teletherapy, but you can also print it out and use it as a worksheet.
Children are shown different shared emotions and asked to name one thing that makes them feel this way.
This is available here for free download.
Name one thing...
12. Draw a face - zone activity
Children draw faces on four different blank figure illustrations - each wearing a shirt representing one of the four regulatory zones.
Children can draw a different face on each character to represent the zone they are in. This helps in categorizing emotions by zone as well as reading facial expressions.
Draw a Face - Zones activity
13. Identifying the zones interactive Google Slides
For example, you can use this in Google Classroom with students or with Microsoft PowerPoint. There are drag-and-drop elements that kids can use to sort by zone. Each slide has a different interactive activity to help kids practice identifying the zones.
Regulatory Zones Interactive Google Slides
14. Inside-Out Zones of the Regulation Table
This diagram is illustrated with characters from the movie Inside Out to represent the four zones. It includes a list of emotions for each zone, along with a brief description of how a person in each zone may look or act.
Inside out regulatory zones to print out
15. Introduction to The Zones powerpoint presentation
Regulatory Zones Introduction PowerPoint
Official zones of regulation posters
Official regulatory zone posters are only available fromBuy them from Social Thinking.
This is also where you can access the syllabus and all other official learning resources.
The activities in this blog post are all adapted from the original zones created by Leah Kuypers.
Schools, clinics, therapists, and counselors around the world use the Zone Framework and activities like this to teach children emotional self-regulation.
FAQs
What are Zones of Regulation activities? ›
Zones of Regulation is an approach used to support the development of self-regulation in children. All the different ways children feel and the states of alertness they experience are categorized into four coloured zones. Children who are well regulated are able to be in the appropriate zone at the appropriate time.
How do you explain Zones of Regulation to a child? ›The Zones can be compared to traffic signs. When given a green light or in the Green Zone, one is “good to go”. A yellow sign means be aware or take caution, which applies to the Yellow Zone. A red light or stop sign means stop, and when one is the Red Zone this often is the case.
What is Zones of Regulation handout? ›The Zones of Regulation is a framework and easy-to-use curriculum for teaching regulation strategies for managing feelings and sensory needs to children, students, and clients ages 4+.
What are self-regulation activities for children? ›One of the best ways to help kids learn how to regulate their emotions is to practice self-care on a regular basis. This can include activities such as reading, listening to music, walking, relaxing in the bath, or playing with a pet. Don't forget that adults need to model self care as well.
What activities help a child self regulate? ›- Freeze dance. Have a dance party with a small group of kids or family members and tell everyone that when you stop the music, they must hold very still. ...
- Traffic lights. ...
- Musical chairs. ...
- Orchestra. ...
- Jenga.
Here are some things that can be done to support The Zones of Regulation: ● Continue to practice identifying the emotions that go with each zone ● Continue to practice identifying expected and unexpected behaviors ● Continue to practice utilizing tools and strategies (It is best to practice the tools and strategies ...
What does regulation mean for kids? ›Behavioral Regulation – A set of mental skills that allow a child to engage healthy behaviors and avoid unhealthy behaviors as a means of regulating negative emotions. These skills are associated with the capacity to self-manage classroom behavior, inhibit negative behavioral impulses and focus on goal attainment.
What are Zones of Regulation in classroom? ›What is Zones of Regulation? The Zones of Regulation is a popular framework and self-regulation curriculum to teach regulation strategies for managing sensory needs and emotions to students, children, and other individuals aged 4+.
What are self-regulation activities? ›- Consciously attend to breathing, relaxing;
- Exercise;
- Movement;
- Awareness of body sensations;
- Attending to care for my body, nutrition;
- Meditation and prayer;
- Self-expression: art, music, dance, writing, etc.;
- Caring, nurturing self-talk;
The Zones of Regulation categorizes states of alertness and emotions into four colored zones. It is important to know that it's fine for students to experience all of these emotions while they're at school.
How do you teach students self-regulation? ›
- Arrange your classroom to promote more student independence in use of space and materials.
- Clearly post, explain, and teach classroom rules and routines.
- Add visuals such as labels, lists of steps, or reminders.
- Teach students to highlight or color-code important information.
The Goals of the Zones of Regulation
learn when and how to use the tools. problem solve positive solutions. understand how their behaviours influence thoughts and feelings. ultimately – develop independent regulation.
The Zones of Regulation is a curriculum geared toward helping students gain skills in consciously regulating their actions, which in turn leads to increased control and problem solving abilities.
What is an example of self-regulation? ›What Is Self-Regulation in Psychology? In psychology, self-regulation has come to mean regulation by the self, not just of the self. For example, we actively regulate or control whether or not we go to the gym, eat a piece of cake, or have a positive attitude.
What is self regulated learning examples? ›Examples of good self-regulation skills include good time management, the ability to rapidly select the most efficient problem-solving strategies and the ability to actively monitor emotional states such as frustration.
What are the three types of self-regulation? ›The individual set of self-regulation strategies that are usually used by successful students fall into three categories: personal, behavioral, and environmental.
What are the 5 steps to self regulation? ›The five steps are I Am, I Calm, I Feel, I Choose and I Solve. The objectives for children when conducting the five-step self-regulation process are: To recognize they have been triggered and take themselves to the Safe Place. To begin calming themselves enough to identify the feeling they are experiencing.
What activities promote self regulation in preschoolers? ›Examples: music with props or creative movement directions, drumming, yoga cards, a movement story, an adventure skill. Try combining fast and slow, and end with relaxation and recharge to both enhance learning and reset the central nervous system.
How can I help my 7 year old with emotional regulation? ›- Teach About Emotions.
- Explain Feelings and Behaviors.
- Validate Feelings.
- Show Acceptance.
- Teach Emotion Regulation.
- Avoid Reinforcing Outbursts.
- Challenge Your Child.
- When to Seek Help.
- Be a role model. ...
- Teach your children to distract themselves. ...
- Promote big goals. ...
- Teach breathing meditation. ...
- Read books with examples of self-regulation. ...
- Play outdoor games, board games, and music. ...
- Avoid (or at least limit) temptations.
What are exercises for emotional regulation? ›
Tip: Any physical activity that involves and allows full range of motion of different muscle groups can greatly aid emotion regulation if it is approached with an attitude of leisure, relaxation and pleasure. Example: basketball, soccer, running, walking, hiking, biking, tai chi, yoga, dance, skating, etc.
What are Zones of Regulation in early years? ›Zones of Regulation is an approach used to support children to further develop their social and emotional skills. Essentially, it helps pupils to better understand their feelings, as well as teaching strategies to aid them in regulating their emotions and behaviours.
What are regulation examples? ›Common examples of regulation include limits on environmental pollution , laws against child labor or other employment regulations, minimum wages laws, regulations requiring truthful labelling of the ingredients in food and drugs, and food and drug safety regulations establishing minimum standards of testing and ...
What are the 4 types of self regulation? ›- Self-monitoring (also called self-assessment or self-recording)
- Self-instruction (also called self-talk)
- Goal-setting.
- Self-reinforcement.
It is possible to identify at least six different types of regulation, although there are some overlaps, and numerous sub-categories. These categories are discussed in more detail below. The causes of the recent growth in regulation are discussed here.
What is Zones of Regulation preschool children? ›The Zones of Regulation® program is a self-regulation tool to help kids identify, address, and use strategies to achieve self-control and emotional regulation in a non-judgmental and safe way.
What are some of the classroom rules and regulations? ›- Treat others with respect at all times.
- Listen to the teacher when s/he speaks.
- Ask for help when you need it.
- Be prepared every day with required items.
- Respect other people's property.
- Listen and follow directions.
- Raise your hand before speaking or leaving your seat.
Do not try to talk to them because they cannot respond to logic or reason. Instead, stay calm, show empathy, help them become self-aware, and guide them through sensory experiences and calming strategies. Be supportive and encouraging. Help children feel cared about, valued, and understood as they learn to regulate.
What is self-regulation PDF? ›self-regulation is defined as the process of the person managing their own psychological. and physiological states, as well as actions. In Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science and medicine, the self-regulation is defined. as the regulation of one's own goal-oriented behavior without immediate external control.
What are Zones of Regulation social skills? ›The Zones is a systematic, cognitive-behavioral approach used to teach us how to regulate our feelings, energy and sensory needs in order to meet the demands of the situation around us and be successful socially.
What is the use of zones? ›
Zoning is a method of urban planning in which a municipality or other tier of government divides land into areas called zones, each of which has a set of regulations for new development that differs from other zones.
What are the 2 main types of regulations? ›Economists distinguish between two types of regulation: economic and social.
How many types of zones are available? ›There are four major types of land use zoning: Functional zoning. The most prevalent form of zoning is where land use zones are defined according to their function, such as commercial, residential, or industrial.
How many regulatory laws are there? ›8 Important Regulatory Laws in India.
How can teachers support a child's self-regulation? ›Establish a warm and responsive relationship with each child. Children learn to manage their emotions and behaviors better when they feel a positive con- nection with their teacher. Develop a warm relationship with every child to create a strong and essential foundation for your co-regulation practices.
What is the meaning of Zones of Regulation? ›The Zones of Regulation is a range of activities to help your child develop skills in the area of self-regulation. Self-regulation can go by many names, such as self-control, self-management and impulse control. It is defined as the best state of alertness of both the body and emotions for the specific situation.
What are learning zones? ›The Learning Zone (or Growth Zone)
Beyond the Comfort Zone lies the Learning Zone (also known as the Growth Zone). Here, your existing skills and abilities are stretched , allowing you to learn and develop new ones. Moving into the Learning Zone might feel intimidating at first.
Aside from the more obvious benefits, such as feeling better in the immediate term, strong emotional regulation skills can also enhance long-term wellbeing, improve performance at work, enrich personal relationships, and even lead to better overall health.
Why is regulation control important in our life? ›Regulation plays a critical role in society. At its most basic level, regulation is used to control risks that lead to societal problems. It may be used to address a broad range of risks, including economic, health, infrastructure, security, and environmental risks.
What does regulation of activities mean? ›Regulatory Activity means an activity which involves the making or enforcement of by-laws, orders, standards or other controls under this or another Act; Sample 1.
What are the controlled activities? ›
- erecting a building.
- carrying out works.
- removing material from waterfront land, such as plants or rocks.
- depositing material on waterfront land, such as gravel or fill.
- any activity which affects the quantity or flow of water in a water source.
Common examples of regulation include limits on environmental pollution , laws against child labor or other employment regulations, minimum wages laws, regulations requiring truthful labelling of the ingredients in food and drugs, and food and drug safety regulations establishing minimum standards of testing and ...
What are the 3 types of regulation? ›Three main approaches to regulation are “command and control,” performance-based, and management-based.
What are the two types of regulatory activity? ›Economists broadly categorize regulation into two main types: 1) economic regulation, which uses economic controls like entry and exit restrictions and often focuses on specific industries; and 2) social regulation, which focuses on issues like health, security, and environmental quality.
What are the examples of emotional exercise? ›- Managing clutter and adopting productive daily routines.
- Acting in a way that reflects individual values.
- Building resilience with skills that help us cope, bounce back, and grow in the face of stress. ...
- Expressing creatively9 or introducing more beauty into life in the form of nature, music, or visual arts.
- Self-awareness. Noticing what we feel and naming it is a great step toward emotional regulation. ...
- Mindful awareness. ...
- Cognitive reappraisal. ...
- Adaptability. ...
- Self-compassion. ...
- Emotional support.
The six principles of control activities are: 1) Establishment of responsibility, 2) Segregation of duties, 3) Documentation procedures, 4) Physical controls, 5) Independent internal verification, 6) Human resource controls.
What are the 5 control activities? ›There are five interrelated components of an internal control framework: control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, and monitoring.
What are the five control activities? ›Control activities – Control activities are the policies and procedures that help ensure management directives are carried out. They include a range of activities as diverse as approvals, authorizations, verifications, reconciliations, reviews of operating performance, security of assets and segregation of duties.
What is the purpose of zones? ›A zone identifies the preferred land use in an area. The zone, and other planning controls, are identified in the planning scheme to guide development and use of land.
How many lessons are in the Zones of Regulation? ›
The learning activities of zones of regulation are divided into 18 lessons. To reinforce the regulation concepts being taught, all of the lessons include probing questions and instructions for one or more learning activities.
What is Zones of Regulation teacher training? ›The Zones of Regulation is a curriculum based around the use of four colours to help children self-identify how they're feeling and categorise it based on colour. The curriculum also helps children better understand their emotions, sensory needs and thinking patterns.