The Zones of Regulation is a simple framework used to help children understand and manage their emotions, energy levels, and behaviour. It supports emotional literacy by helping children recognise how they are feeling and choose strategies to regulate themselves so they can be calm, focused, and ready to learn.

It groups feelings into four colour-coded zones:

• Blue Zone – Low energy states such as feeling tired, sad, bored, or unwell. Children may need rest, comfort, or time to recharge.
• Green Zone – A calm, alert, and ready state. This is the ideal zone for learning, social interaction, and positive engagement.
• Yellow Zone – Heightened feelings such as excitement, frustration, anxiety, or silliness. Children are still in control but may need support to stay regulated.
• Red Zone – Intense emotions such as anger, panic, or overwhelm. Children may lose control of their behaviour and need help to calm down and feel safe.

The aim is not to stay in the Green Zone all the time, but to help children notice which zone they are in and use strategies to move between zones when needed. These strategies might include breathing exercises, movement breaks, talking to someone, using calming tools, or taking quiet time.

For parents and carers, the Zones of Regulation can be a helpful shared language at home. It supports conversations like 'What zone are you in right now?'  and 'What could help you get back to green?', helping children develop lifelong skills in self-regulation and emotional wellbeing.