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With most learning shifting from the classroom to the home, educators and caregivers need assistance to plan, implement, and support students’ mathematics education. The resources below, which are all free, include guidance for IM Learning at Home and support for the IM Math community.

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The IM Community Hub creates effective strategies for teaching IM K–12 Math, especially in distance and hybrid learning environments.

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Community Hub

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Make Learning Math Meaningful (Secondary)

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Make Learning Math Meaningful (Secondary)

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Created by Occupational Therapists

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We are so excited you are here! Our mission is to provide valuable tools to therapists, educators and parents to help with the most important job there is ... helping children grow!

Online Resources for Pediatric Therapists, Educators and Parents

An innovative place to find resources to promote a child's growth in academic, social, emotional, communication, and functional skills.

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With an annual membership you will have immediate access to thousands of resources! New resources are added regularly.

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Evidence based resources for use in therapy treatment, assessment and collaborating with others.
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Excellent Tools for Tight Spaces & Budgets

Comprehensive resources that target the diverse needs and goals of each child. Regardless of your treatment setting, we have what you need! For a modest investment, you will have immediate access to thousands of resources.

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Tools To Grow, Inc. | Pediatric Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy printable handouts resources activities

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Pediatric Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy printable resources, activities, worksheets, and educational material for therapists, educators, special needs teachers, and parents/caregivers.

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An online resource that includes text, animation, and audio to help student understand basic math terms and concepts. It is free.

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Please note, user data extraction does not include program content.

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eHarcourtSchool.com has been retired and is no longer accessible. Because of the age of this application, the programs supported by this platform are not able to benefit from the technological improvements in accessibility, security, and HMTL5 (non-Flash) that we have incorporated into our newer programs and platforms in recent years.

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IEP Goal Bank

A well-written IEP goal is essential to the IEP and special education. How can you monitor progress if you don't know what you are aiming at?

I often am asked, "Can you put together an IEP goal bank?" The number of possible IEP goals is infinite. The list could go on forever. But this list of IEP goals and objectives is a useful starting point. If you scroll to the bottom, you will find a PDF of printable IEP goals.

IEP Goals Examples

Before you head on down to the list of IEP goals and objectives, please take a look at this 3-minute video on measurable IEP goals.

Smart IEP Goals

What you will find here are many lists of IEP goals. For the most part, there's no need to reinvent the wheel. However, IEP goals should be specific to the child's needs. And, they need to be SMART IEP Goals. Here is a graphic showing what that means.

So, while browsing lists of IEP goals is easy, and you likely will find a goal that you like, it doesn't mean that it's appropriate for your child. You may need to do some reading there first, before you choose the measurable IEP goals from this goal bank list.

I have dozens upon dozens of articles about IEP goals on this site. In my online IEP Advocacy Training, I spend a great deal of time discussing IEP goals, how to develop them, write them, and measure them.

Finding great ideas (and there are literally thousands here) is just one step toward a solid IEP.

IEP Goals for Autism

I'm often asked why I don't have a separate IEP goal bank for autism. Or autism-specific IEP goals. Remember, IEPs are needs-driven, not diagnosis driven. So, you'd develop goals based on the child's needs. Yes, many students with IEPs for autism have similar needs.

I have a separate post about an Autism IEP, which explains how to build a solid, meaningful IEP if your child has autism.

Grade Level IEP Goals

At the bottom of this section, I will include the IEP goal formula. You can take any skill, any time frame, and plug it into the formula to make it measurable.

However, again, please remember that the goals are developed on baselines in the IEP present levels. It may not be inappropriate to take core standards skills and plug them in and make an IEP goal.

But, what are the baselines? If a child is behind his/her age and grade peers, the goal should be personalized to them.

What I'm not so succinctly saying is this: IEP goals are based on a child's existing skill set. And not an age, grade, or calendar expectation.

I have heard from parents in the past who were told "Well, we have to write goals based on core standards." No, no they don't. IDEA is very clear that goals are based on evaluations. It's an exercise in futility to write a goal that a child cannot reasonably achieve in one school year.

Measurable IEP Goals

Remember that the student's every area of need should be listed in IEP present levels. Use the baselines in PLAAFP to develop the goals.

But, wait! There's more!

In addition to the common requests that I get for IEP goals listed above, there are many more below. Just scroll through the titles and images, and surely you will have more IEP goal ideas than you know what to do with.

Printable IEP Goal Bank

Here you go. I consolidated the printable IEP goals and objectives bank. It is over 100 pages, so if you are going to print it, be aware. You might want to send it to Kinko's or Staples and have it bound so that you can use it as a reference.

IEP-goals-and-objectives-bank-printable

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Free IEP Goal Bank with 1000+ Measurable IEP Goals and Objectives separated by Domain

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A well-written IEP goal is essential to the IEP and special education. How can you monitor progress if you don't know what you are aiming at? I often am asked, "Can you put together an IEP goal bank?" The number of possible IEP goals is infinite. The list could go on forever.

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(you will have to download to view)

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THE ZONES OF REGULATION: A CONCEPT TO FOSTER SELF-REGULATION & EMOTIONAL CONTROL

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The Zones of Regulation®: Exploring Emotions is an application designed to foster self-regulation skills in fun and exciting ways while simulating everyday situations to which students can relate. The app helps students gain skills in consciously regulating their behaviors to the social and environmental demands.

Exploring Emotions offers a new medium to address self-regulation needs and reinforce The Zones framework. There are several features in the app that create a comprehensive learning experience:

* Audio voiceover enriches the experience for students by providing social interaction between characters and instructional teachings throughout the app.

* Data tracking allows students to apply what they are learning in the app to their own life by self-monitoring and reflecting on their feelings (Zones) and how they were managed during events that occurred over the course of their day. These graphs can be saved, revisited and edited, and emailed to an email address.

* Easy navigation throughout the app allows students to return to any point in the app to replay and consider different outcomes.

* Integration of an expansive toolbox that is fully customizable by students which allows them to learn about and categorize dozens of tools to help them manage their zones. They are also able to adjust the content of their toolbox.

* Incorporation of mini games provide real-time the opportunities for students to reflect on the outcome of the games and how this triggers emotions.

* Multiple environments including a classroom, a cafeteria, and a park that offer different scenarios, events and activities that students can easily relate to are presented throughout the app, helping students to make connections between learning in the app to real life.

* Reinforcing activities are infused throughout the app. For example, students can unlock a mini game and customize their avatar by coloring their hair and buying custom outfits.

* References to The Zones of Regulation curriculum are embedded throughout the app to assist adults who support a student in locating additional educational resources to strengthen learning.

Exploring Emotions is designed to be used with Pre-K, elementary students, secondary students, and is applicable to adults that struggle with emotional control. To enhance learning, it is recommended that an adult closely monitor the student's progression through the App, asking probing questions and facilitating discussions about how the App's content can be generalized to the student's real life. Exploring Emotions is a resource for parents to teach and encourage self-control and emotional management in the home through the Zones framework. It is an exciting resource for therapists and teachers looking to address social emotional learning (SEL) through a medium that is motivating for students.

The App provides a fun and engaging experience for students while they learn and gain valuable knowledge to assist in developing real-life skills in self-regulation and emotional control.

The Zones of Regulation: Exploring Emotions is available on iPad®, iPhone®, iPod touch®, Mac® and Android™.

The Android version of The Zones of Regulation: Exploring Emotions, is currently only available on The Amazon App store for Android. If you own a non-amazon tablet or phone you will need to install the Amazon App Store to your device. Please click the link below to download the APK and then follow the instructions to install it on your device.

CLICK HERE FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO INSTALL THE AMAZON APP STORE For more information regarding the App visit the creator's (Selosoft, Inc. ) website by clicking the button below!

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The Zones of Regulation®: Exploring Emotions is an application designed to foster self-regulation skills in fun and exciting ways while simulating everyday situations to which students can relate. The app helps students gain skills in consciously regulating their behaviors to the social and environmental demands.

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THE ZONES OF REGULATION: A CONCEPT TO FOSTER SELF-REGULATION & EMOTIONAL CONTROL

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An interactive tool to provide a fun and engaging experience while learning and gaining valuable knowledge to assist in developing real-life self-regulation skills. Students will be taken on an adventure through a town filled with exciting learning opportunities around Zones concepts, rewards, and mini games. it is available for Purchase on your device's app store.
Throughout the App, students learn how to use strategies or tools to manage their feelings and behaviors in each zone. Given each student's needs and preferences are unique, students explore various calming techniques, cognitive strategies, and sensory supports, building a toolbox of methods to use to regulate and move between zones.Be sure to check out the Zones Picture Studio! Team up and learn emotional awareness by taking pictures with your mobile device. Scenarios are presented to students providing them the opportunity to reflect on how the scenario would make their body feel. Thinking about the cues from their body and brain, students use the app to capture what the feeling looks like on them, gaining insights on the physiological cues that accompany emotions. All pictures will be taken with your device's camera, stored on your device, and displayed directly in the app for easy review. Students can even create their own scenarios. The Zones Picture Studio offers hours upon hours of fun and education.

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To enhance learning, it is recommended that an adult closely monitor the student's progression through the App, asking probing questions and facilitating discussions about how the App's content can be generalized to the student's real life. The content of the App can be further explored using the lessons and learning activities featured in the curriculum book, The Zones of Regulation.
The Zones of Regulation is available now for iPad®, iPhone®, iPod touch®, Mac®, Android™, and Blackberry Z10 Devices.
However, self-regulation takes a lot more than knowing about tools. To deepen students' understanding of how to self-regulate, the App also explores how triggers or different events can impact how they are feeling. The App highlights how to read others' facial expressions and recognize a broader range of emotions and perspectives about how others see and react to their behavior, insight into events that trigger their different zones, and when and how to use tools and problem solving skills to change the way they are thinking and feeling. It provides a fun, and engaging experience while learning and gaining valuable knowledge to assist in developing real-life skills. Students will be taken on an adventure throughout a town filled with excitement, rewards, and mini games.

The Android version of The Zones of Regulation is currently only available on The Amazon App store for Android. If you own a non-amazon tablet or phone you will need to install the Amazon App Store to your device. Please click the link below to download the APK and then follow the instructions to install it on your device.

CLICK HERE FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO INSTALL THE AMAZON APP STORE.

est in Family-Friendly Products.

Sterling Selover (the developer) and I are honored to announce that The Zones of Regulation App has earned the prestigious Mom's Choice Award®. Having been rigorously evaluated by an MCA judging panel, The Zones of Regulation is deemed to be among the best products / services for families in the Apps and Software category.

For more information regarding the App visit the creator's (Selosoft, Inc. ) website by clicking the button below!

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An interactive tool to provide a fun and engaging experience while learning and gaining valuable knowledge to assist in developing real-life self-regulation skills. Students will be taken on an adventure through a town filled with exciting learning opportunities around Zones concepts, rewards, and mini games. it is available for Purchase on your device's app store.

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Inside Out Themed Tools to use with Zones of Regulation.pdf

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Zones of Regulation Informational handout.doc

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Many kids with ADHD, SPD, Anxiety, and Spectrum Disorders feel things more deeply and more intensely than their peers. Things that other kids may not even notice, these kids not only pick up on, (and frequently misinterpret negatively), but also feel more hurt by. So what other kids can brush off without a second thought,...

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How can you support the development of self-regulation in your child? Check out some of our best activities and ideas here!
*This post contains affiliate links. Read more.
What is Self-Regulation?

When we talk about self-regulation in kids, we're referring to the ability to maintain an arousal level that is appropriate for any given situation. Self-regulation also involves having the ability to generate appropriate behavioral and sensory responses to the input in different situations and daily routines and the ability to demonstrate self control: to monitor and control behavior, attention, motor output, emotions, and social interactions.

Self-regulation skills might include a child maintaining his composure and problem-solving or asking a caregiver for help or guidance when another child takes his toy or being able to self-monitor, control their impulses, and keep their voice quiet in the library. Self regulation in the classroom or school might include a child being able to attend and stay at his desk while the classroom teacher is talking or being able to stay with his class and walk in line in the hallway.

It sounds like a lot, doesn't it? That's because self-regulation is extremely complex. It involves cognition, the sensory systems, behavior...and so much more! Many children struggle with one or more of these areas, making self-regulation challenging. Children who are autistic, who have ADHD, or who need more sensory processing supports may struggle with self-regulation skills more than other kids. Toddlers and kids in the preschool years are still actively developing the ability to regulate themselves and may demonstrate outbursts and tantrums as part of typical development. But all of us - adults and children alike - can have difficulty with managing our own emotions and behaviors when faced with basic daily stressors like tiredness or hunger.

The Self-Regulation Handbook

Here at The Inspired Treehouse, we're so passionate about the topic of Self-Regulation that we finally decided to write a book about it! The Self-Regulation Handbook is an ebook that's packed with tools, activities, strategies, and information that are perfect for supporting self-regulation in kids at home, in the classroom, or during therapy sessions. Click here to learn more!

How Can You Tell if Your Child is Struggling With Self-Regulation?

Recognizing when kids have self-regulation concerns involves recognizing different patterns of behavior. Kids who are having difficulty with self-regulation may:

-Act overly silly or "out of control"

-Have tantrums or meltdowns

-Struggle with transitions between activities

-Have difficulty waiting or taking turns

-Struggle with being in close proximity to others (e.g. circle time)

-Demonstrate problems and frustration during social interactions (e.g. talking too loud, standing too close, touching others)

-Have difficulty walking or waiting in line

-Move too quickly or with too much force

-Grab or touch objects impulsively

How to Help Kids Develop Self-Regulation

Even though self-regulation can be a challenging skill for many children, research has shown that games and fun activities can be effective in promoting better self-regulation and for children who are struggling.

It is also so important for kids to have caregivers who are able to maintain perspective, coach them through difficult situations, demonstrate empathy when kids are struggling with self-regulation, and form responsive relationships that foster kids' self-regulation capacities and self-esteem.

Games and therapy tools that support planning and problem solving, patience, memory, attention, motor control, and sequencing can help kids develop the ability to self-regulate despite challenging situations and circumstances. Calming techniques, self-awareness exercises, and mindfulness activities can also be effective in supporting the development of self-regulation.

The following 30 games and activities can be great ways to introduce self regulation strategies with kids!

Games and Activities for Self-Regulation

The following 30 games and activities can be great ways to introduce and practice self-regulation skills with kids and can even be used as self-regulation interventions during therapy sessions. Click on the linked titles for more information!

1 || Red Light, Green Light

Spice it up with these fun light buzzers! And be sure to check out our post about variations on this classic game to promote self control in kids!

2 || Simon Says

Try this Simon Says parachute game for a different twist on this old classic.

This fun obstacle course for kids is a great way to encourage teamwork and social skills while also working on gross motor skills like balance and coordination!

4 || Duck Duck Goose

A great old classic for working on social interactions, waiting, and more!

5 || Freeze tag

This is an awesome one for working on self-regulation because kids have to wait perfectly still until their friends come to "unfreeze" them.

Cooperative art activities for kids like Partner Painting are perfect for getting little ones to work together while also targeting visual motor and fine motor skills.

7 || Hide and seek

Can kids wait quietly in their hiding spots while their friends try to find them?

Group games for kids like Wacky Relay are a great way to focus on social skills, teamwork, and gross motor skills!

Freeze Dance is so perfect to use in the classroom or at home to practice regulating movements and behavior.

10 || Musical Chairs

We love this idea for working with kids on coping when it's their turn to be "out". It can be a big challenge, but a good way to practice.

The Mirror Mirror game can be as simple, or as challenging as you make it and is a super fun way to address controlled movements and attention.

Working together on controlling the parachute to play different games is awesome for working on self-regulation. Grab our favorite parachute here!

13 || "Counting Down" or Anticipation Activities

Try setting out a beanbag chair and helping the child wait by counting down - "3...2...1...JUMP!" and then jumping onto the bean bag chair. And then repeating the activity so the child knows to wait before jumping)

Bilateral coordination, memory and cognitive skills, and cooperative play are all packed into these fun hand clapping songs and games - and they'll also take you for a little stroll down memory lane!

Hedbanz is another fun game for working on self-regulation because kids have to resist the urge to yell out the picture on their friends' headbands!

16 || Dancing

Kids love practicing their favorite fast and slow dance moves to different types of music - great for regulating speed of movements.

Suspend game is a great fine motor challenge and also challenges kids to regulate the force of their movements.

18 || Balloon volleyball

When kids play balloon volleyball, they have to learn how to slow their movements down in order to control the balloon and not let it go flying!

Slow, careful movements are the name of the game in Jenga and you can modify the blocks to include fun questions and other prompts to boost social interaction.

We like the simple game of Operation for working with kids on coping with turn taking when they hit the buzzer on the pretend patient.

Simon is great way to work on visual attention and memory, this old game is a great one for your classroom or therapy bag.

22 || Sequencing Motor Tasks

For example - do 3 jumps, then 2 hops, then stand on one foot for 3 seconds)

Like Simon, Bop It is great for working on memory, but also includes an auditory processing challenge and an opportunity to learn how to remain calm when kids make a mistake.

Spot It is a perfect game for addressing visual processing skills and also offers kids a chance to cope with "losing" because the rounds go fairly quickly so they can get back "in the game".

These calming deep breathing techniques for kids are great strategies for supporting self-regulation and calm behavior at home, in the classroom, and beyond! Grab the free printable breathing cards too!

These 10 meditation resources are the perfect place to start if you want to try mindfulness activities and guided meditation for kids!

Mindful movement and mindful breathing are a great combination for supporting self-regulation. Try some yoga for kids in your classroom or during your next therapy session!

One of the most popular curriculums on the market for working on self-regulation, Zones of Regulation offers visual supports and practical activities for working on the skills kids need most to regulate themselves.

You'll want these calming techniques in your toolbox for addressing behaviors in the classroom setting.

And these awesome ideas are perfect for taking out into the community to practice self-regulation on the go!

Other Resources About Self-Regulation

1 || Developing Young Children's Self-Regulation Through Everyday Experiences, National Association for the Education of Young Children. Ida Rose Florez

2 || Self-Regulation: A Cornerstone of Early Childhood Development. Linda Groves Gillespie and Nancy L. Seibel. National Association for the Education of Young Children.

3 || Executive Function & Self-Regulation. Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University.

4 || How Can We Help Kids With Self-Regulation? Child Mind Institute.

5 || Strategies for Teaching Kids Self-Regulation. PBS.
6 || Self-Regulation Research: A Simple Overview
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How to Help Kids With Self-Regulation: 30 Games and Activities - The Inspired Treehouse

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How can you support the development of self-regulation in kids? This huge resource is full of self-regulation games, information, books, and more!

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The Zones is a systematic, cognitive behavior approach used to teach self-regulation by categorizing all the different ways we feel and states of alertness we experience into four concrete zones. ...

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games, craftivities, and worksheets that teach kids how to manage their emotions

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Zones of Regulation Home Page Zones of Regulation Blog Link to Social Thinking to order The Zones of Regulation Plus overview of program

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Zones of Regulation Parent Presentation.pdf

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Some time back, I noticed posters like this in our school hallways. I found out from learning support that they were to help the children learn self-regulation. The posters were based on a concept called The Zones of Regulation.

Source: Pinterest

What is Self-Regulation?

Self- regulation is the ability to manage disruptive emotions and impulses, and to think before you react. - Mind Tools

In school, children need to be able to self-regulate to help them be ready to learn. Children whose states of arousal are too high or too low will struggle to focus on the learning task at hand.

Update: new research links self-regulation with greater resilience in young people

Researchers have analyzed whether self-regulation would be a good predictor of resilience. This study shows that helping these young people to bounce back from adversities by acquiring self-regulation skills such as setting goals and adjusting their path after a misstep, equips them better to do well in school and in life. - Science Daily

What happens when children cannot self-regulate?

Children that are unable to self-regulate are prone to the following:

tantrums and outbursts

abusive behaviours - e.g. self abuse, punching, kicking, biting

emotional distress

inattention/distractibility

refusal to participate

How can we help children learn self-regulation?

To help children learn self-regulation, we need to work on their:

executive functioning - memory, planning and behaviour inhibition.

emotional regulation - initiating, inhibiting, or modulating our state or behavior in a given situation.

sensory integration - the process by which we receive information through our senses, organise this information, and use it to participate in everyday activities.

What are the Zones of Regulation

The following video provides a helpful summary on the Zones of Regulation and how they help children with self-regulation.

What do the Zones look like:

The Zones of Regulation is a cognitive behaviour approach for helping students self-regulate their behaviours, emotions, and sensory needs. By using concepts and visuals to help students learn to recognise their feelings and level of arousal, it allows them to employ strategies for optimal learning.

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. The Blue Zone can be compared to the rest area signs where one goes to rest or re-energize. All of the zones are expected at one time or another, but the curriculum focuses on teaching students how to manage their Zone based on the environment and people around them. For example, when playing on the playground or in an active/competitive game, no one would think twice about one being in the Yellow Zone but that would not be same in the library. - Zones of Regulation

Although the Zones of Regulation is often used to support the needs of children with ASD or ADHD, it is very much applicable to all children, and even adults. The ability to recognise our own state of arousal and to make the necessary adjustment so that it is appropriate for the occasion we face is something we all require to function optimally.

The goals of the zones of regulation are to teach children to:

identify their feelings and levels of alertness

develop effective regulation tools

learn when and how to use the tools

problem solve positive solutions

understand how their behaviours influence thoughts and feelings

ultimately - develop independent regulation

Blue Zone: low level of arousal; not ready to learn; feels sad, sick, tired, bored, moving slowly.

Green Zone: calm state of alertness; optimal level to learn; feels happy, calm, feeling okay, focused.

Yellow Zone: heightened state of alertness; elevated emotions; has some control; feels frustrated, worried, silly/wiggly, excited, loss of some control.

Red Zone: heightened state of alertness and intense emotions; not an optimal level for learning; out of control; feels mad/angry, terrified, yelling/hitting, elated, out of control.

What Zone are You in?

Blue Zone - your body is running slow, like when you're tired, sick, sad or bored.

Green Zone - like a green light, you feel "good to go". Your body may feel happy, calm and focused.

Yellow Zone - when you start to lose control, like when you feel frustrated, anxious, worried, silly or surprised. Use caution when you are in this zone.

Red Zone - when you experience extreme emotions. When you are in this zone, you are out of control, you have trouble making good decisions, and you need to STOP!

For the Blue Zone - increase arousal: For the Green Zone - maintaining:

think happy thoughts

talk about your feelings

rub hands together

run on the spot

shoulder rub

ask for a hug

swinging or spinning

stretching or jumping jacks

strong scents

vibration

drink water

crunchy foods

bright lights

listening to loud music

For the Yellow - decrease arousal:

keep your eyes on the teacher

remember your daily goals

finish your homework

think happy thoughts

be a good friend

help others

work hard

smile

For the Red Zones - decrease arousal:

talk to my parents/friends

take 3 deep breaths

do a wall push up

use a fidget

go for a walk

take a break

read

deep pressure

slow movement

heavy work to muscles

soft lighting

listen to music

chewy foods

take three deep breaths

how big is my problem - the size of your reaction should match the size of the problem. How big do others see the problem? How big should your reaction be?

jump on a trampoline

relax your muscles

talk to an adult

sensory break

push the wall

count to 20

walk away

STOP!

deep pressure

slow movement

heavy work to muscles

soft lighting

listen to music

chewy foods

Can you be in more than one zone at a time? Should children be penalised for being in the RED zone?
Common Questions on the Zones of Regulation
Can you look like one zone on the outside and feel like you are in another zone on the inside?
Yes. Your child may feel tired (blue zone) because she did not get enough sleep, and anxious (yellow zone) because she is worried about an activity or contest at school. Listing more than one zone reflects a good sense of personal feelings and alertness levels.

It's best for children to experience the natural consequences of being in the RED zone. If a child's actions/choices hurt someone or destroys property, he needs to repair the relationship and take responsibility for the mess they create. Once the child has calmed down, use the experience as a learning opportunity to process what the child would do differently next time.

Yes. Many of us "disguise" our zone to match social expectations. We use the expression "put on a happy face" or mask the emotion so other people will have good thoughts about us. Parents often say that their children "lose it" and goes into the RED zone as soon as they get home. This is because children are increasing their awareness of their peers and expectations. They make every effort to keep it together at school to stay in the GREEN zone. Home is when they feel safe to let it all out.

Tips for Practicing the Zones of Regulation
What is it? What to put in it?

Know yourself and how you react in difficult situations before dealing with your child's behaviours.

Know your child's sensory threshold. We all process sensory information differently and it impacts our reactivity to situations.

Know your child's triggers.

Be consistent in managing your child's behaviour and use the same language you use at home.

Empathise with your child and validate what they are feeling.

Have clear boundaries/routines and always follow through.

Do not deal with an angry, upset child when you are not yet calm yourself.

Discuss strategies for the next time when you are in a similar situation.

Remember to ask your child how their choices made you feel (empathy).

Praise your child for using strategies. Encourage your child to take a sensory break to help regulate their bodies.

Sensory Tools on Amazon
Make a Coping Skills Box

A coping skills box is a place to keep things that help to calm you down in periods of distress. Having everything gathered in one place helps you remember to use your coping skills rather than using negative behaviours.

1. Self-Soothing Objects that help to calm you through your five senses:

2. Distractions to take your mind off the problem for a while, e.g. puzzles, books, artwork, crafts, knitting, crocheting, sewing, crossword puzzles, sudoku, positive websites, music, movies, etc.

3. Opposite action - do something that is opposite to your impulse that is consistent with a more positive emotion:

affirmations and inspiration - e.g. looking at drawings or motivational statements

something funny or cheering - e.g. funny movies, books

Put it all together
4. Emotional Awareness - tools for identifying and expressing your feelings, e.g. a chart of emotions, a journal, writing supplies, art supplies.

5. Mindfulness - tools for centering and grounding yourself in the present moment, e.g. meditation or relaxation recordings, grounding objects (rock, paperweight), yoga mat, breathing exercises.

5. Crisis Plan - contact info of supports and resources for when coping skills aren't enough, e.g. family/friends, therapist, psychiatrist, hotline.

Once you have gathered everything, put them together into a box and decorate it. Keep the box in a place where you'll remember it and USE IT!

Image Source: Pinterest

See also: Essential Life Skills for Kids - Stress Management

Sensory Break: Sensory Activities for Sensory Integration

Some time back I wrote about sensory processing disorders (SPD) identifying sensory difficulties that affect some children and the sensory integration activities that can help address their sensory hotspots. The following image helps teachers and parents identify some of the common sensory hotspots that some children may have:

Sensory activities that can help children with these hotspots may be proprioceptive, vestibular, or tactile in nature.

Proprioception

Proprioception is the sense of knowing the relative positions of the various parts of our bodies and strength of effort we employ during a movement. Children with proprioceptive needs can benefit from the following activities:

carrying heavy baskets or objects

jumping jacks

leaning against a wall or table palm presses

pushing or pulling boxes; wheelbarrow walk

jumping on a trampoline

crawling through a tunnel

pushing against objects, wall push-ups

standing on toes and stretching

finger fidgets

Vestibular

The vestibular system is responsible for the sense of balance and spatial orientation for the purpose of coordinating movement with balance. Children with vestibular sensory needs can benefit from the following activities:

bounce on a yoga ball

walk on a balance beam

bear/crab/snake walk

roll neck slowly in a circular movement

imitation game - e.g. Simon Says

gentle rocking

jump up and down; try to touch the door frame

sit and spin / yoga seat

roll on the mat

Tactile sensory needs can be fulfilled with "touch" activities, such as the following:

Sensory Activities at Home

When your child needs a sensory break at home, try these activities:
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"kid-sandwich" - pushing down on them between two pillows

"kid-burrito" - rolling them in lycra and gently pressing down and pretending to eat them

roll out the "cookie dough" with a yoga ball firmly over the back and limbs

pillow fight

mopping or sweeping the floor

stirring cookie dough or cake batter

jumping jacks

chewing gym, eating crunchy foods (pretzels carrots, small ice chips, or sipping water from a cup with a thick straw while doing seated work)

pushing or pulling boxes or laundry baskets with a few toys or books in it

carrying or pushing pillowcases of stuff animals around the house

helping with chores, pulling a heavy trash can, vacuuming, water plants

removing couch cushions, piling them on the floor and "crashing" into them

roller-skating uphill, ice skating, jumping rope, marching, hopping and skipping

walking on a treadmill set to go uphill

pulling other kids around on a sheet or blanket

crawling through a t-shirt tunnel

yard work, such as raking leaves, pushing the wheelbarrow, water the flowers

shoveling sand into a bucket

crossing monkey bars

swinging on a swing

pulling heavy items in a wagon

More Resources:

Related:

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Self-Regulation and the Zones of Regulation

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Some time back, I noticed posters like this in our school hallways. I found out from learning support that they were to help the children learn self-regulation. The posters were based on a concept called The Zones of Regulation. Source: Pinterest What is Self-Regulation? Self-regulation is the ability to manage disruptive emotions and impulses, and to...

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Supplementary Zones Emotion Visuals
These Zones visuals feature characters from The Zones of Regulation Storybook Set. They can be used when teaching Lesson 1 in The Zones of Regulation curriculum to supplement Reproducible C: Zones Emotions and Reproducible E: The Zones of Regulation Visual and at any point in the learning process.
Our most popular resources are available in Spanish, French, and English.
We are pleased to provide digital versions of three widely used "Reproducibles" from the curriculum book translated into Spanish and French. In addition, you will find the English version in the digital format which is already included with The Zones book.
Information About The Zones Of Regulation (Reproducible A) French/Francais Spanish/Espanol The Zones Of Regulation Glossary (Reproducible B) French/Francais Spanish/Espanol The Zones Of Regulation Visual (Reproducible E) French/Francais Spanish/Espanol New Emotion Imagery (Zones Reproducibles C, E, BB)
We are pleased to announce that we have included a broader representation of characters within our Zones emotions illustrations throughout the book. While eight characters can't possibly embody all the spectrum of humanity, we hope that learners see glimpses of themselves and those that they know among this new cast. Updated versions of select Reproducibles are available for download to all Zones of Regulation curriculum users
Adolescent Zones Logo Visual
This Zones of Regulation visual, featuring our updated Zones logo design, is helpful for learners who have access to a broad emotional vocabulary.

Print and use this Zones check-in on staff lanyards, or even as a tabletop check-in for learners.
All the Zones Are Okay Coloring Page
Use this coloring page to reinforce the key concepts that all our feelings and Zones are Okay!

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Browse our collection of free resources for parents and educators to support a social-emotional learning curriculum.

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From managing impulsive behavior, resisting distractions, and learning the art of delayed gratification, to regulating emotions in the face of conflict and feelings of discomfort, self-regulatory behavior is key to success in all areas of our lives, and since children with poor self-control tend to exhibit more behavioral problems than their self-disciplined peers, teaching children self-discipline is more important than we might think. We're sharing some fabulous Zones of Regulation activities below to teach you how to do this both at home and in the classroom, but before we get to that, let's take a deeper dive into emotional control and how the zones of regulation can help.

What is self-regulation?

Simply put, self-regulation refers to our ability to control our own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in relation to our environment. Resisting emotional outbursts when something upsets us, focusing on school work, controlling our impulses, calming ourselves down when we feel worried or anxious, and transitioning from one task to another are all examples of self-regulation.

What is the Zones of Regulation?

The Zones of Regulation is a cognitive behavior based curriculum designed to help children learn how to regulate their emotions independently by teaching them how to identify their feelings and how their behavior impacts those around them. Developed by Leah M. Kuypers, the program teaches children how to recognize when they are in different emotional states called 'zones', which are represented by different colors. The Zones of Regulation uses activities to equip children with the tools they need to regulate their actions and stay in one zone (or move from one zone to another), allowing them increased control and problem-solving abilities.

You can learn more about The Zones of Regulation - and why so many teachers and therapists swear by the program - on the Zones of Regulation website, where you will also find links to buy Leah's book, smartphone app, and visual posters as well as sign-up for her training seminars.

Of course, The Zones of Regulation isn't the only tool you can use to help teach children self-control. There are lots of other strategies you can use to set a child up for success!

How to teach self-regulation in the classroom

Be clear about rules and expectations

This is especially important in young children. By explaining what the rules are, what's expected, and what is and isn't appropriate, and taking the time to give children regular reminders, you are setting them up for success. The easier the rules are, and the more consistently you reinforce them, the easier it is for kids to do what is expected of them.

Use visual schedules

Visual schedules are great for children who thrive on routine and predictability as it helps set expectations at the beginning of the day, and for children who get 'stuck' with schedule changes, it can help prepare them ahead of time. By giving children a visual representation of what their day will look like, you are empowering them by allowing them to look to the visual schedule and move from one activity to the next without prompting. The Easy Daisies Grade 1-7 Classroom Schedule is one of my favorite classroom tools!

Focus on positive reinforcement

Reinforcement is a fabulous technique parents and teachers can use when a child is demonstrating behavioral problems as a result of poor self-regulation, and while both positive and negative forms of reinforcement can help teach children self-control, research tends to suggest that positive reinforcement - the act of rewarding a child when he completes a desired behavior as a means of increasing the likelihood he'll repeat the behavior again - is the most effective. Of course, rewarding students for doing what is expected of them isn't always a preferred teaching method, but something simple like giving praise in front of the entire class, making a child the 'Star of the Day', or allowing a child to stand first in line after demonstrating effective self-control can make a huge difference.

Teach calming strategies

Equipping children with appropriate calming strategies can make all the difference when it comes to teaching self-regulation. Here are some of our favorites:

Practice deep breathing. It's no secret that taking deep breaths can help restore a sense of calm when anxiety hits, and a great way to teach this concept is to have children blow bubbles when they're feeling anxious. Start by giving each child their own bottle of mini bubbles to practice, and once they've mastered the concept, have them practice blowing bubbles without the wand. This will give them an effective coping strategy they can use when big emotions threaten to take over during the school day (and beyond)!

Use rewards. We all know kids are motivated by rewards, and a sticker chart can be extremely effective for kids who struggle with self-regulation. Of course, creating separate sticker charts for each student would be a bit labor-intensive, but creating a classroom sticker chart whereby every student can earn stickers for the entire class by demonstrating emotionally-appropriate responses (i.e. sitting quietly during circle time, lining up at the door when the school bell goes off, helping to clean up after an activity, etc.), and organizing a special treat for the whole class to enjoy once a certain number of stickers has been earned can get everyone excited!

Create a calm down box. Another way to help children learn self-regulation is to equip your classroom with a calm down box. Fidget toys, squeeze balls, and chewing gum are all great classroom-appropriate ideas that can help reduce feelings of anxiety and restore a sense of calm.

Develop a 'Calm Down Corner'

Having a designated area within your classroom where students can take a break when they feel overwhelmed is a great way to help keep emotions in check. This may require a bit of prompting from you at first ('I notice you're feeling a little frustrated. Why don't you go to the Calm Down Corner for a few minutes?'), but teaching children how to recognize their emotions and equipping them with strategies to calm down before things get out of hand is extremely valuable.

Make transitions slowly

In a classroom setting, transitions tend to be fast and furious. One of my friends is a kindergarten teacher and she once told me her class can have up to 18 transitions in ONE day, which is hard for any child, particularly those who struggle with self-regulation. The good news is that we live in a day and age where IEPs are becoming much more common, and finding ways to slow down transitions is key for children who struggle. This may mean that some children participate in fewer activities throughout the day, but if it helps them cope with their environment and lessens negative reactions, it is definitely a strategy to consider.

17 Zones of Regulation activities we love

Self-Control Bubbles | Love, Laughter and Learning in Prep!
If you want an excuse to get outside and enjoy some sunshine with your little ones, grab a couple of bottles of bubbles and give this self-control activity a try!

Zones of Regulation Twister | Unknown
If your kids enjoy the classic game Twister, this is a great activity to try and you can set this up so many different ways. For example, when your child puts a hand on a certain color, he must tell you about a time he was in that colored zone, and when he puts his foot on a certain color, he must tell you about a strategy he used while in that colored zone to help him get back to the green zone.

Zones of Regulation Calm Down Jars | newjourneyon
Calm down jars are an easy self-regulation tool you can make at home, and I love the ideas of making a jar for each of the different zones of regulation. All you need is a few clear plastic water bottles, water, food coloring, glue, and glitter!

A Jar Full of Feelings | Mosswood Connections
This is a simple, yet effective idea to not only help children express the emotions they're feeling, but the degree to which they're feeling them. All you need is a jar, a sharpie, and a bunch of different colored pom poms!

Operation: Teaching Emotional Regulation Skills | Speech Paths
If you have a copy of the classic, or even one of the newer versions of the game Operation, Speech Paths has a great way to turn it into an emotional regulation skill-building game the whole family will enjoy!

Teaching children self-regulation is no easy task, but mastering the art of self-discipline and self-control is one of the most valuable things a child can learn. I hope my tips for teaching self-regulation in the classroom (and beyond), as well as these Zones of Regulation activities prove useful to you!

This post contains affiliate links.
If you found these self-regulation strategies and Zones of Regulation activities helpful, please share this post on Pinterest! And if you're looking for more ways to have fun with kids, please follow our Kids board, where we share all kinds of fabulous ideas!

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Self-Regulation in the Classroom: 17 Zones of Regulation Activities

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From managing impulsive behavior, resisting distractions, and learning the art of delayed gratification, to regulating emotions in the face of conflict and feelings of discomfort, self-regulatory behavior is key to success in all areas of our lives, and since children with poor self-control tend to exhibit more behavioral problems than their self-disciplined peers, teaching children self-discipline is more important than we might think.

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Are you familiar with the zones of regulation curriculum? It is a popular self regulation curriculum that helps students communicate how they are feeling. SLPs can use zones of regulation activities to help students initiate communication, explain how they are feeling, or what they are needing. Zones of regulation activities can also help students identify how others are feeling and what words/actions they should do when someone is feeling a certain emotion.

At my middle school, I have students on the Autism Spectrum that have a difficult time with regulating their emotions. They need visual and verbal prompts to recognize what type of emotion/feeling they are experiencing in situations. An SLP can work on teaching self-regulation by using the zones of regulation curriculum in therapy. These terms and strategies help improve a child's ability to express their emotion and make requests/comments for what they need in a social situation.

What is zones of regulation?

Zones of regulation is a curriculum (amazon affiliate links included for your convenience) designed to help children independently self regulate their actions by teaching them to recognize how their body is feeling. They use colors to explain the different emotions. By teaching these zones, students can learn to increase communication initiations by sharing how they are feeling and what activities they need to do to help them stay in the green zone. Increasing communication around emotions helps decrease unwanted behaviors!

Blue zone- tired, sleepy, bored, sad

Green zone- calm, ready, happy, focused, content

Yellow zone- excited, anxious, nervous, surprised, worried, silly

Red zone- furious, angry, rage, out of control

If you want to read more about the program and get more of the worksheets, head over to Zones of Regulation website.

Bulletin Boards For Zones Of Regulation

This is a great poster to hang in your room as a visual and use with your students to generate strategies to help them stay or get to a certain zone. Grab a poster for your speech room on Social Thinking.

My SDC teacher Janelle McDaniel made this cute visual bulletin board for her classroom. I think it is awesome! She had the different zones and then pasted the emotions that go on the zones as a visual reminder for students.

Look what else they made in the SDC classroom! The SDC teacher grabbed free paint chip samples from Home Depot and had the kids write the different emotions for the zones. She took pictures of the students acting out the different zones and posted them in the classroom.

Zones Of Regulation Activities For Your Speech Therapy Sessions

I around on the internet in search of some more "Zones" activities and this is what I found!

Free break cards Zones of Regulation Break Cards

Speechy Musings Self Regulation Handouts and Size of the Problem Detectives

A Sprinkle of Speech What size is your problem?
Speech Paths- How Would Others Feel? Interactive Activity for Middle/High School
The Zones of Regulation App (haven't tried this app yet, but it looks like it could be great)!

Fun with Firsties made a very cool bulletin board in her class with all the ZONES and has some great strategies on how to make a calm down area.

There are visuals in the ZONES book that you can photo copy and use as visuals. The Lower Elementary Cottage made a "tools" book for students to pick a tool for a ZONE to help them get back to green. If they successfully use the tool, they earn a tool coupon in which they can save up to earn a prize.

The Incredible 5 Point Scale - A great visual resource to visually show students how to regulate their emotions in social situations.

5 Point Scale for Adolescent & Adults - is a curriculum designed for older students and adults.

Youtube Videos For Zones Of Regulation Activities

I found some hilarious video clips on youtube from one of my SDC teachers. They show the different zones people can be in using clips from the Big Bang Theory!

Sheldon in the yellow zone! Super funny!!

Love this clip for the blue zone. The kids got a kick out of this. We were also able to talk about how the other character was feeling too and why it may be unexpected to ask a friend to rub Vics on your chest when you are sick.

Red zone with Sheldon! This one made me laugh the most!!

This video is of Sheldon in the green zone. Some of my kiddos could relate to feeling the most calm when they are left alone, lol.

This video has LOTS of Zones going on! I recommend starting the video at about 1:28 seconds because Kevin Hart says "bitch" in the video. My students LOVE Kevin Hart and they sure got more interested about ZONES when we watched this clip. What activities have you done with the Zones of Regulation? I would love to add some more ideas to my stash of tricks!!

Need more videos to help teach the Zones of Regulation?

Follow my playlist on youtube for videos that help teach the Zones of Regulation HERE.

I used video clips from the movie Elf during the holidays to work on perspective taking and what "zone" people were in. Check out my blog post HERE!

You can also find me on TeachersPayTeachers, Pinterest, and Facebook.

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Zones of Regulation Activities For Social Pragmatics

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Need zones of regulation activities for your students? Incorporate zones of regulation in bulletin boards, using youtube videos, and other resources!

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New audio meditations created by Elisabeth are regularly added to this page. Don't miss when they come out - Subscribe to the FragrantHeart.com Newsletter We have meditations available in the following categories: MP3 Store now open! You can now purchase and download your favourite meditations in our MP3 Store.

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