Zones of Regulation is a research based curriculum that aims to make us aware of how our brain and body feel generally throughout the day and while we are experiencing certain emotions. Often, the physiological cues our bodies get can help build our awareness and understanding of the need to use skills to regulate before emotions get too big to handle. For example, noticing body sensations like my heart beating fast and my muscles feeling tense will strengthen my mind-body awareness and allow me to select calming strategies that work for me before I get so angry that I shout or push.
Zones of Regulation can help us learn when we need to regulate our emotions so we are able to most successfully learn, play, and make safe and thoughtful choices in times of stress. No emotions or “zones” are negative, some are just less effective in certain environments and situations. The idea is not to be so calm and collected that we never experience feelings, but rather to help our bodies return to a regulated homeostasis after a challenge.
You can help reinforce our learning at home by:
Using the language of zones at home to narrate how your brain and body are feeling. (i.e. “This is really frustrating for me. I feel my heart beating faster and my muscles are starting to feel tight. I’m going to take a few deep breaths.)
Encourage your child to share his/her zone with you.
Validate what zone your child is in, and help them brainstorm expected ways to self-regulate.
Over the next few weeks, we will explore each zone in depth. Students have finished their unit about the zones, so feel free to ask your learner what they already know!
