In this episode I want to take a closer look at zones of regulation, coping skills and their relation to each other. When speaking in schools, I like to learn what strategies & techniques they use and I hear a lot about Second Step, Responsive Classroom, Open Circle and Restorative Justice, but I’ve also heard a lot of schools using something called ‘Zones of Regulation’ based on ‘The Zones Of Regulation’ book by Leah Kuypers. It’s a way to meet the social and emotional needs of their students.

For reference during the podcast;

Blue rest area symbol = Sick or tired

Green circle symbol = Happy / calm / ready to learn

Yellow yield symbol = worried / frustrated / annoyed

Red stop symbol = Stop / angry / overwhelmed

This system helps kids to label their emotions with shapes and color rather than calling them out at point blank. After a child can identify their feelings, we can start to look at coping skills to bring them back to green. We want to encourage them back to a green, calm, ready to learn space which may look different depending on what color / shape they’re coming from.

About The Host - Janine Halloran

Janine Halloran is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, an author, a speaker, an entrepreneur and a mom. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Janine has been working primarily with children and adolescents for over 15 years. She loves to create products and resources, so she started two businesses to support families and professionals who work with children and teens.

‘Coping Skills for Kids’ provides products and resources to help kids learn to cope with their feelings in safe and healthy ways. It’s the home of the popular Coping Cue Cards, decks of cards designed to help kids learn and use coping skills at home or at school. Janine’s second business ‘Encourage Play’ is dedicated to helping kids learn and practice social skills in the most natural way - through play! Encourage Play has free printables, as well as digital products focused on play and social skills.

Coping Skills for Kids - https://copingskillsforkids.com

Encourage Play - https://www.encourageplay.com

Interested in reading my books?

The Coping Skills for Kids Workbook - https://store.copingskillsforkids.com/collections/coping-skills-for-kids-workbook/products/coping-skills-for-kids-workbook-digital-version

Social Skills for Kids - https://store.copingskillsforkids.com/collections/encourage-play/products/social-skills-for-kids-workbook