Zones of Regulation

Jennifer Penzenik Special Education District of Lake County

An Overview

Regulation “Is the ability to adjust level of alertness AND direct how emotions

are revealed behaviorally in socially adaptive ways in order to achieve goals.”

Self-Regulation entails: !

• Self-Control/Emotional Regulation • Resiliency • Executive Functioning • Self-Management • Anger Management • Impulse Control • Sensory Regulation/Modulation

Adapted from the work of Clair Kopp

Zones of Regulation “Zones are a systematic, cognitive behavior approach used to teach

self-regulation by categorizing all the different ways we feel and states of alertness with experience in four concrete zones.”

“The zones curriculum provides strategies to teach students to become more aware of and independent in controlling this emotion and impulses, managing their sensory needs, and improving their

ability to problem solve conflict.”

• Heightened state of alertness !• Intense emotions !• No control !• May feel: !

• Elated • Angry • Rage • Terror • Devastation

!

Red Zone

• Heightened state of alertness !• Intense anger, but some control !• May feel: !

• Stress • Anxiety • Frustration • Nervousness • Excitement • The Wiggles • Silliness

!

Yellow ZoneCaution

• Calm state of alertness !• Optimal learning occurs !• May feel: !

• Happy • Cotent • Focused • Calm body • Ready to learn

Green ZoneGood to Go

• Low state of alertness !• Low arousal !• May feel: !

• Sad • Sick • Tired • Bored

Blue ZoneRest/Re-Energize

Framework ❖ It is a teaching tool ❖ It is not a behavior model !❖ It is a thinking framework ❖ It is not a behavior approach !❖ It is a way to nurture skill development ❖ It is not a way to shame behavior !❖ It is supportive in nature ❖ It is not punitive in nature

Adapted from Leah Kuypers

Take Aways• We don’t label a zone as good or bad !• A child can be in more then one zone !• Manage the zone, don’t try to force into another zone !• Individualize the tools for each child !• All the zones are expected at one time or another !• It is a teaching tool, not a behavioral approach !

Examples

Examples

References

Kuypers, L.M., (2011). The Zones of Regulation. A curriculum designed to foster !! self-regulation and emotional control.