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YouTube Playlist: Social and Emotional Learning in Physical Education

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YouTube Playlist: Social and Emotional Learning in Physical Education

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PE inherently offers practice in social skill development. And PE teachers, whether they know it or not, teach social skills every day. That's why it is important for PE teachers to be intentional about providing opportunities for their students to practice positive social skills AND provide feedback as well. This channel offers support to PE teachers who want to help their students become physically AND socially strong!

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Social and Emotional Learning in Physical Education

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Physical Education (PE) can be the best or the worst class in any school. Why? Because PE inherently offers practice in social skill development. And PE teac...

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An overview of the Zones of Regulation framework, which helps students gain skills in consciously regulating their actions and emotions.

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Sorting Our Emotions Into Four Zones

Feelings are complicated. They come in different sizes, intensities, and levels of energy that are unique within our brains and bodies. To make them easier to talk about, think about, and regulate, The Zones of Regulation organizes our feelings, states of alertness, and energy levels into four colored Zones - Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red. The simple, common language and visual structure of The Zones of Regulation helps make the complex skill of regulation more concrete for learners and those who support them. We learn to regulate our Zones to meet our goals and task demands, as well as support our overall well-being.

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Learn about the Zones of Regulation a powerful framework and curriculum to help students develop emotional self-regulation and control.

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A collection of activities and strategies to help students identify and manage their emotions more effectively.

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Learning to identify and regulate emotions is a big job, especially for little kids. These skills are essential for students to master in order to be successful in school and in life. Fortunately there are plenty of Zones of Regulation activities and games to help teach them how to manage their emotions.

What are the Zones of Regulation?

Zones of Regulation, a curriculum developed by Leah Kuypers, an OT and autism resource specialist, helps kids understand and learn to manage their emotions. Rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy, it is a framework that uses four colors-blue, green, yellow, and red-to help students identify their feelings and levels of alertness. The curriculum also provides strategies to support emotional regulation. Teaching students how to read their bodies' signals, detect triggers, read social context, and consider how their behaviors impact those around them leads to improved emotional control, sensory regulation, self-awareness, and problem-solving skills.

To learn more about the Zones of Regulation, check out this unit by The Calming Corner, these resources from He's Extraordinary, and this slideshow from the Montana CEC.

What is emotional regulation?

According to Psychology Today, emotional regulation is the ability to control your emotions and not let them drive your actions. For students, starting with emotional regulation is truly starting at the beginning of SEL skills. Before kids can listen, have empathy, or follow directions, they have to be able to manage their emotions.

Emotional regulation means being able to identify feelings, respond without overreacting, and manage changes in the environment. In addition, emotional regulation means controlling impulses, being able to calm down, and handling emotions in a healthy way. To learn more, check out What Is Emotional Regulation?

The 4 Zones of Regulation and What They Mean

The Zones of Regulation provides an easy way to think and talk about how we feel on the inside and sorts emotions, all of which are expected in life, into four colored zones.

The Blue Zone represents sad, bored, tired, or sick.

The Red Zone represents overjoyed, panicked, angry, or terrified.

The Yellow Zone is worried, frustrated, silly, or excited.

The Green Zone is happy, focused, proud, and calm.

Zones of Regulation Activities

To help you integrate this helpful information into your classroom, here are 23 engaging Zones of Regulation activities to support the emotional growth of your students.

1. Identify feelings by giving them a color

Being able to recognize emotions is important. This color wheel will help kids start to identify their emotions by associating them with different colors. Once they have a grasp on what emotions feel like, students can begin to learn strategies to deal with them. Check out these Zones of Regulation activities that incorporate this emotion wheel.

2. Play a round of Monster Feelings Match-Up

Identifying and labeling feelings in oneself and others is a life skill that takes lots and lots of practice. One of kids' favorite Zones of Regulation activities is Monster Feelings Match-Up. This fun game teaches kids how to identify their feelings and manage their emotions and also fosters their conversation skills.

3. Go on an emotions scavenger hunt

A super-fun activity to help students identify feelings by using emojis and their power of observation. Recently updated for at-home learners as well as whole-class Zoom lessons, check out the full lesson plan. Best for grades K-6.

4. Make cootie catchers

You know kids are going to make cootie catchers anyway, so why not make a version that helps kids review and understand the Zones of Regulation? Each color-coded corner teaches students the feelings and coping skills that go along with each zone. Best for grades 3 and up.

5. Play the Emotions Sorting Game

Linking Zones of Regulation activities to fun experiences helps kids make connections. For example, this simple Emotions Sorting Game inspired by Disney-Pixar's Inside Out helps kids learn and explore emotions. The game is a printable download available from Mom Endeavors.

6. Make a calm-down sandwich

When students get angry or frustrated, they can use this coping strategy to help calm themselves down. Ask them to brainstorm six things that make them happy or feel calm inside. Then, have them write down their strategies on each piece of a calm-down sandwich.

7. Play Behavior Bingo

Distinguish between awesome actions (like showing respect and encouraging others) and bummer behavior (like using hurtful words or goofing off during work time) with this fun version of bingo. Five awesome actions in a row = BINGO! Great for small groups or the whole class, grades 1-4.

8. Practice impulse control with this version of Candy Land

Games are the best way for kids to learn without even realizing they're learning! These custom-made cards go along with the standard version of Candy Land and help kids learn impulse-control skills. Best for grades K-3.

9. Make emotion-regulation spinners

This fun activity is a great addition to your calm-down corner. Students can pick strategies that work for them to get into the green zone and back on track. Best for grades K-5.

10. Play a round of What Zone Would I Be In if ...?

This free activity includes 30 cards with hypothetical situations, plus a page for sorting the cards into the zones. Read the cards and let students decide which zone they feel they would be in if this happened to them. You can ask questions about why they feel that way to encourage discussion.

11. Teach the Zones of Regulation with this fun song

This catchy tune by the fun crew at BlackBerry Jam Kids teaches kids all about the different emotions in the Zones of Regulation and strategies to get back into the "green zone."

12. Create a sensory break center in your classroom

Provide students with a safe place to take a break when they need to regulate their emotions. Include resources for strategies that will help them manage. For a free copy of the poster shown and tons of great ideas for what to include in the space, check out The Dynamic Duo. Best for grades K-8.

13. Stock your sensory break center with strategy cards

These awesome break cards tap into a favorite set of characters: Pokemon! Each card helps students identify which "zone" they are in and strategies for managing the emotions they are feeling. Available as a PowerPoint, Google Slideshow, and also a printable PDF. Includes four cards for each of the four zones.

Source: Social CJ

14. Empower students with these contingency maps

Throughout the school day, students make behavior choices (for better or worse). Use these picture maps to help students understand the consequences of making different choices. They are very effective because they illustrate the results of both desired and undesired behaviors in a concrete way. Best for students in K-5.

15. Role-play with task cards

Role-play is a great activity for helping students rehearse acceptable behaviors. These task cards help students build emotional self-control by rehearsing responses to different scenarios that may trigger strong emotions. Best for grades 4-7.

16. Build emotional toolboxes

What can students do to regulate their emotions when they veer away from the green zone? This toolbox of activities includes a handy flip-book that's chock-full of ideas. Each tab covers a different zone and gives students strategies to regain control. Best for students in K-3.

17. Encourage self-regulation with these desk nameplates

Post these interactive nameplates on students' desks to help them self-regulate their emotions and feelings by paying attention to what zone they are in. Throughout the day, students self-monitor their emotional state by sliding a paper clip along the zone boxes on the left. If students are in the yellow, blue, or red zone, they can use one of the strategies in their toolbox to help them get back to green. Each student's toolbox will vary, depending on which strategies work best for them. Best for grades K-5.

18. Share resources with families

Meltdowns and emotional regulation impact the entire family. Share this blog with families to help them develop strategies with their kids at home. Full of helpful tips and valuable information, this is a great resource to help support calmer, happier kids.

19. Display information about the zones front and center

Keeping the information students need front and center will help them begin to recognize which "zone" they are in and help them learn to regulate their behavior.

20. Help students identify what anger feels like

Use this free printable to go through each of the anger cues with your students, and if they feel that the statement is true for them when they're angry, have them color the word bubble red. Also get the When I Feel Sad printable at the link.

21. Create a Zones resource folder

Fold legal-size file folders to create a pocket on the bottom. Trim off the edges and use hot glue to turn the large pocket into four sections (red, yellow, green, and blue). Color and label the sections based on the Zones. Have students label craft sticks with either emotions or coping strategies to insert into the correct pockets.

22. Use a feelings thermometer

To help kids understand the intensity of an emotion they are feeling, create a feelings thermometer. Draw the outline of a thermometer, then divide it into three sections. Label each section. For example, use slightly angry, really angry, super angry. Talk about each section and label each with what it looks like and strategies for things to do.

23. Practice self-control with bubbles

This is a really fun activity to talk about self-control with kids, and it's harder than it looks! Label a special bottle of bubbles "Self-Control Bubbles" and gather kids in a circle. For the first round, blow bubbles and allow students to pop, touch, chase, and catch the bubbles to their heart's desire (within control). However, for the second round, tell the students that they are going to practice using self-control. Bubbles will be all around them, but the students must use their self-control strategies and not touch or chase the bubbles. Afterward, talk with kids about how it felt and how they managed to control their impulses.

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23 Zones of Regulation Activities To Help Kids Manage Their Emotions

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These Zones of Regulation activities teach students to identify and manage their behavior and regulate their emotions.

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Guidance on how to use journaling as a tool for students to reflect on their thoughts, feelings, and actions.

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Journaling Techniques
Here's how to harness the power of journaling for deeper self-awareness, with 30 journaling prompts for writing.

Developing self-awareness is foundational for personal growth, emotional intelligence, and even leadership. Knowing yourself well can aid in decision-making, building strong relationships, managing stress, and understanding how your motivations and desires show up in your actions on a daily basis. The good news is that self-awareness is a skill that can be developed over time through reflection, mindfulness practices, feedback from others, and other personal growth activities, like journaling.

In this guide, we'll explore some of the fundamentals of self-awareness, along with how to start using journaling as a pathway for knowing and understanding yourself better.

What is Self-Awareness?

Self-awareness is the conscious knowledge of one's character, feelings, motives, and desires. Being self-aware involves recognizing your strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and motivations.

Here are some key components and nuances of self-awareness:

1. Introspection: This is the act of looking inward to examine one's own thoughts and feelings. Through introspection, individuals can understand the "why" behind their actions and reactions.

2. Recognition of Emotions: Being self-aware means not only recognizing when you're experiencing an emotion but also understanding the triggers for those emotions.

3. Understanding Strengths and Weaknesses: A self-aware individual acknowledges areas where they excel and areas they need to work on, without an inflated or deflated sense of self.

4. Personal Values and Beliefs: Recognizing and standing firm in one's values and beliefs is a significant aspect of self-awareness.

5. Impact on Others: It's not only about understanding oneself but also recognizing how one's actions and behaviors might affect others.

6. The Desire for Growth: A self-aware individual often has a strong inclination towards personal growth and development, as they recognize areas of improvement.

7. Autonomy: People with high self-awareness tend to act autonomously, making decisions based on their own values and beliefs rather than being overly influenced by external pressures.

8. Mindfulness: Practicing mindfulness, or being present in the moment, can enhance self-awareness as it encourages tuning into one's emotions and thoughts without judgment.

Is Self-Awareness a Skill That Can Be Learned?

While some individuals may naturally exhibit higher levels of self-awareness due to their life experiences or inherent tendencies, most people can enhance their self-awareness through purposeful efforts. Here's a breakdown of how self-awareness can be developed:

1. Journaling: Regular introspection, such as through journaling or simply taking time to reflect on one's actions, thoughts, and feelings, can increase self-awareness. Over time, these practices help individuals recognize patterns, triggers, and habitual responses.

2. Mindfulness and Meditation: Mindfulness involves staying present in the moment and observing one's thoughts and emotions without judgment. Regular meditation or mindfulness exercises can help individuals become more attuned to their internal state.

3. Feedback from Others: Seeking feedback from trusted individuals, whether friends, family, colleagues, or therapists, can offer valuable external perspectives. They can point out blind spots or behaviors that an individual might not be aware of.

4. Therapy or Counseling: Working with a trained professional can provide guided introspection, helping individuals delve deeper into their thoughts, behaviors, and patterns.

5. Educational Workshops and Courses: There are numerous courses, workshops, and seminars on emotional intelligence and self-awareness that teach techniques and strategies for enhancing this skill.

6. Reading and Research: Books, articles, and other resources on psychology, emotional intelligence, and personal development can provide insights and frameworks for understanding oneself better.

7. Continuous Learning and Adapting: As life evolves, so do individuals. Continuously revisiting and recalibrating one's self-awareness in the face of new experiences and challenges is crucial.

9 Important Connections Between Self-Awareness and Journaling

Honesty is at the heart of self-awareness. You can't see yourself objectively if you're unwilling to be honest about your emotions and actions. Honesty is also at the heart of journaling. A journal is a safe, private space where you can share your innermost thoughts. Whether you're experiencing things you feel proud of or ashamed of, writing about them honestly is the goal.

If you are willing to be honest in your journal, you will benefit from the many ways journaling and self-awareness connect.

1. Journaling as a Mirror to Your Thoughts

Understanding your feelings while you're feeling them can be challenging. Journaling reflects your inner thoughts and emotions. It allows you to process thoughts in your own way. As you write, you can look more objectively at your own thoughts and see if they align with the person you wish to be.

2. Unearthing Subconscious Patterns

All people grow up believing in a certain set of values based on their childhood teachings and experiences. Even as an adult, you may be hanging on to unhealthy patterns because you simply aren't aware of them. Journaling for self-awareness helps you see yourself and your interactions with others in a more realistic light. You may recognize thinking or behavior patterns that are hindering your personal growth.

3. Cultivating Emotional Awareness

Are you feeling angry, hurt, tired, or confused? Sometimes, it's difficult to know for sure. Maybe you're just hungry. The ability to identify your emotions correctly isn't something you're born with. It's a learned behavior. Journaling can help you improve your emotional intelligence and teach you to understand your emotions on a deeper level.

4. Clarifying Values and Beliefs

Do you know what your core values are? Are they really yours, or are they the values you learned as a child that you naturally accepted without questioning? Journaling can help you explore where your core values originated and if they truly reflect your personal beliefs.

5. Gaining Perspective and Objectivity

Sometimes, you have to step away from a situation to gain perspective. Journaling is a way to "step back" from your emotions. After writing things down, you can let go, close your journal, and return when you're ready for self-reflection.

6. Capturing Moments of Epiphany

Have you ever had a real "ah ha" moment and then quickly forgotten what your deep insight was? If so, you're not alone. Moments of emotional clarity can be fleeting, and that's a shame because they can also help you increase your self-awareness. Documenting moments of insight and realization in your journal means you can revisit them as needed.

7. Fostering a Growth Mindset

Journaling for self-awareness is an exercise in curiosity. The method of reflective journaling, especially, encourages growth through questioning. Journaling also helps you remember growth is not a straight line. By revisiting past entries, you can see how you've overcome setbacks in the past and draw on those skills to overcome current challenges.

8. Building Self-Compassion

Being gentle with yourself is a crucial component of self-awareness. Sure, you make mistakes. You're not perfect. Neither is anyone else. If you're interested in journaling for self-awareness, you know your need for growth and are willing to try new methods. Avoid self-criticism when you're journaling, even in those moments when you are thinking or acting negatively. Treat yourself like a trusted friend who is worthy of kindness and acceptance.

9. Strengthening Intuition and Gut Feelings

Intuition can be a powerful guide, but only if you listen to it. Journaling can help you tap into your intuition by providing a record of all those times your intuition was correct. Write about it in your journal when you feel that a certain action would help or hurt a situation. Later, you can confirm whether you were correct. As you begin to see your intuition is mostly reliable, you'll begin trusting your inner guidance more frequently.

10. Taking Purposeful Action

Self-awareness without action can be likened to a car with a full tank but no ignition. Through journaling, not only do you gain insights and clarity, but you also create a blueprint for actionable steps towards personal growth. Every journal entry acts as a catalyst, nudging you closer to your authentic self. As you outline your feelings, goals, and reflections, you inherently begin to design a roadmap for the changes you wish to see in yourself. Over time, as you revisit past entries, you can identify patterns of action and inaction, further refining your path forward. This purposeful action ensures that the newfound self-awareness doesn't remain mere knowledge but translates into tangible transformation in your everyday life.

The Benefits of Journaling for Self-Awareness

You can benefit from the advantages of journaling for self-awareness. Some of the mental and emotional benefits of self-awareness include:

Improved perspective taking

Emotional self-regulation

More creativity and creative thinking

Improved self-esteem

Better decision making

Stronger relationships

Improved communication

5 Journaling Techniques for Self-Awareness

One of the great things about journaling is that it holds something of interest for almost everyone. There is no single "right" way to approach journaling. In fact, there are many styles and formats to benefit from and enjoy.

1. Reflective Journaling

Reflective journaling is a somewhat structured style that helps you get clarity on upsetting or confusing events. It is especially helpful for those who feel they are in an emotional/behavioral rut and want to think more creatively.

To practice reflective journaling, write about an upsetting or confusing event or perhaps a crucial life memory. Ask yourself questions such as:

What happened?

How did I respond?

What do I wish I would have done or said?

How did this experience change me?

Writing the answers to these questions and any others that come to you provides insight into how you respond to stress and what you can do to respond in a healthier way.

2. Gratitude Journaling

The scientifically proven benefits of gratitude include improvements for both physical and mental health. Using the gratitude journaling method may help you increase your sense of empathy and build self-esteem. Gratitude journaling takes many forms. You can simply list what you are grateful for at the end of each day or write more detailed entries about people, places, and experiences you're grateful for.

3. Stream-of-Consciousness Writing

Stream-of-consciousness (SOC) writing encourages writers to put their pens to the paper (or fingers to the keyboard) and write without stopping for a predetermined time. When using the SOC method, you can write nonsense words, repeat phrases, or even doodle - as long as you don't stop writing.

This method can be especially helpful for people who have difficulty with self-censorship and self-criticism. SOC does not allow for changing grammatical errors, checking spelling, or making other corrections. This free-flowing method can help you get past doing everything "right" to explore your emotional well-being.

4. Dream Journaling

A dream journal is a place to write about the dreams you have while you're sleeping. Dreams can provide valuable insights into what's going on inside your psyche. Writing down your dreams may provide insight into your personal fears, long-forgotten memories, and other information that can help increase self-awareness.

To get the most benefit from journaling, get into the habit of writing about your dreams every morning before doing anything else. If possible, write before even getting out of bed. Your chances of recalling dreams are better before you start thinking about all the day's responsibilities.

5. Creative Journaling

Journaling doesn't have to be limited to writing words. In an art journal, you can draw, paint, or make collages in your journals. Write poetry or print inspirational quotes you've found in other places.

Not everyone expresses themselves most efficiently with words. If other art forms help you access your thoughts and feelings, use them. Remember, there are no limits to your journal. For example, you could try drawing a sketch representing a specific obstacle you are facing in your journey of self-awareness. By contemplating the drawing, you might be better able to express yourself with words.

30 Journaling Prompts for Self-Awareness
Prompts for reflective journaling: Prompts for gratitude journaling: If you're feeling blocked, try the following prompts for stream-of-consciousness writing: Try these prompts for dream journaling:
Using journal prompts specifically intended to help with self-awareness is ideal when that's your journaling goal. Look at the following prompt ideas for different types of journaling related to self-awareness.
These prompts will help you open up your creativity:
When you first begin dream journaling, it may be difficult to remember your dreams. However, writing about them regularly will help with recall.
Going Deeper: More Prompts for Self-Awareness
There are many ways to approach creative journaling.

Wrapping Up: Improving Your Self-Awareness with Journaling

Journaling for self-awareness can bring many benefits to your life. Whether you prefer reflective or gratitude journaling or like to incorporate many journaling methods into your practice, the important thing is that you simply begin.

About the Author

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Building Self-Awareness: How to Use Journaling to Know Yourself Better

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Here's how to use journaling as a pathway for knowing and understanding yourself better, with 30 journaling prompts for writing.

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A list of activities that encourage students to reflect on their learning experiences and personal growth.

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Self-reflection is a tool that kids and adults can benefit from. Reflecting on one's actions and behaviors is a great way to grow as an individual and to meet personal goals. Think about a time you've set a personal goal. Maybe you wanted to start exercising and lose a few pounds. By self-reflecting on a day's events, you can determine what worked in meeting your goal and what didn't work. You can intentionally put a finger on the parts of your day that helped you meet your goal of going to the gym and what stood in the way of eating healthy meals. Self-reflection is essential for goal-setting! Most of these occupational therapy activities are free or inexpensive ways to address self-reflection in kids.

These self-reflection activities can be a vehicle for helping kids to address areas of functioning in several areas. Improving self-reflection can help kids with self-regulation, knowing what coping strategies to pull out of their toolbox, how to act with impulse control, how to better pay attention, how to improve executive functioning skills, and how to function more easily.

Additionally, self-reflection pays a part in mindfulness. If we are practicing attentiveness in the moment and attending to internal and external experiences, we can self-reflect on what worked, what didn't work, and how to make things work better next time.

Self-reflection can be so helpful in social-emotional skills, academic learning, functional task completion, organization, and well-being!

Self-Reflection Activities for Kids

One of the first steps in raising self-reflection to to help kids be more self-aware. They can use tools to improve mindfulness to notice how they feel, how the react, or how they behave. Most kids will struggle with this ability in the moment (It's tough for adults, too!) but they can identify what worked and what didn't work in a particular situation through conversation.

Using self-control strategies like the Zones of Regulation can be helpful in talking about feelings and self-awareness.

Explore along with the child. When a child is playing or exploring their environment, it can be helpful to play right along with them. Use play experiences to communicate through play.

Use play experiences to mirror actions. When a child is playing, play right along with them! Mimic their actions and words to be more aware as a caregiver of the details of a child's interactions and to bring awareness for the child. Use this tactic only when the child is in a positive mood. Mirrored actions should not be completed when a child is behaving poorly or to bring attention to behaviors.

Reflect on the day as a family. Plan a family meeting and talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of the day. It's a good way to talk about ways to work on areas of need.

Create a Choice Collection. Come up with options that include coping strategies or tools to use in different environments. These could be part of a sensory diet or self-regulation strategies.

Use a journal to self-reflect through words or drawings.

Act out situations and how the situation played out. Consider adding dolls or toys for characters in the situations.

Model appropriate behaviors and self-reflection through conversation.

When saying "calm down" just isn't enough...

When a child is easily "triggered" and seems to melt down at any sign of loud noises or excitement...

When you need help or a starting point to teach kids self-regulation strategies...

When you are struggling to motivate or redirect a child without causing a meltdown...

When you're struggling to help kids explore their emotions, develop self-regulation and coping skills, manage and reflect on their emotions, identify their emotions, and more as they grow...

What self-reflection strategies do you use?

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Self-Reflection Activities for Kids - The OT Toolbox

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Self-reflection is a tool that kids and adults can benefit from. Reflecting on one's actions and behaviors is a great way to grow as an individual and to meet personal goals. Think about a time you've set a personal goal. Maybe you wanted to start exercising and lose a few pounds.

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YouTube Video: Social Emotional Learning Ideas in Phys Ed

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YouTube Video: Social Emotional Learning Ideas in Phys Ed

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In this Physical Education podcast, Dr. Aaron Beighle shares some tips on including social emotional learning in the Phys Ed classroom.

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Social Emotional Learning Ideas in Phys Ed | PE Express #57

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Social emotional learning in physical education: how to build the mental and physical capacity of learners? (Vai et al., 2023)

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Social emotional learning in physical education: how to build the mental and physical capacity of learners? (Vai et al., 2023)

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Breaking the ice to build relationships: using icebreakers to create new relationships, promote emotional safety, and incorporate social and emotional learning (Dressel, 2020)

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Breaking the ice to build relationships: using icebreakers to create new relationships, promote emotional safety, and incorporate social and emotional learning (Dressel, 2020)

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Breaking the Ice to Build Relationships  Using Icebreakers to Create New Relationships  Promote Emotional Safety  and Incorporate Social and Emotional

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Developing social-emotional learning in physical education through appropriate instructional practices (Barney et al., 2021)

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Developing social-emotional learning in physical education through appropriate instructional practices (Barney et al., 2021)

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Developing Social Emotional Learning in Physical Education Through Appropriate Instructional Practices

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Developing students' emotional well-being in physical education (Lu & Buchanan, 2014)

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Developing students' emotional well-being in physical education (Lu & Buchanan, 2014)

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Developing Students  Emotional Well-being in Physical Education

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Emotional self-regulation through introjective practices in physical education (Canbate et al., 2020)

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Emotional self-regulation through introjective practices in physical education (Canbate et al., 2020)

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"This is not gym": enacting student voice pedagogies to promote social and emotional learning and meaningful physical education (Howley et al., 2021)

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"This is not gym": enacting student voice pedagogies to promote social and emotional learning and meaningful physical education (Howley et al., 2021)

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Integrating mindfulness into the subject of physical education -an opportunity for the development of students' mental health (Delgado-Montoro et al., 2022)

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Integrating mindfulness into the subject of physical education -an opportunity for the development of students' mental health (Delgado-Montoro et al., 2022)

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Humanities-oriented physical education for social emotional learning (Oh & Lee, 2023)

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Humanities-oriented physical education for social emotional learning (Oh & Lee, 2023)

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Humanities-Oriented Physical Education for Social and Emotional Learning

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Promoting social and emotional learning in physical education (Ciotto & Gagnon, 2018)

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Promoting social and emotional learning in physical education (Ciotto & Gagnon, 2018)

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Promoting Social and Emotional Learning in Physical Education

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Understanding the interpretation and implementation of social and emotional learning in physical education (Wright et al., 2021)

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Understanding the interpretation and implementation of social and emotional learning in physical education (Wright et al., 2021)

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The Curriculum Journal - 2020 - Wright - Understanding the interpretation and implementation of social and emotional

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Bee Me Kidz gives children the skills they need to succeed at school and in life. With the support of parents, families, schools, communities and our partners, we deliver a proven program that builds children’s and their families’ learning potential and resiliency.

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Bee Me Kidz gives children the skills they need to succeed at school and in life. With the support of parents, families, schools, communities and our partners, we deliver a proven program that builds children's and their families' learning potential and resiliency.

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Bee Me Kidz gives children the skills they need to succeed at school and in life. With the support of parents, families, schools, communities and our partners, we deliver a proven program that builds children's and their families' learning potential and resiliency.

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The “C” in CASEL stands for “Collaborative”: It’s both who we are and how we work. We’ve formed a community—spanning classrooms to statehouses—to make social and emotional learning (SEL) part of a high-quality and equitable education for all.

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We define social and emotional learning (SEL) as an integral part of education and human development. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.

SEL advances educational equity and excellence through authentic school-family-community partnerships to establish learning environments and experiences that feature trusting and collaborative relationships, rigorous and meaningful curriculum and instruction, and ongoing evaluation. SEL can help address various forms of inequity and empower young people and adults to co-create thriving schools and contribute to safe, healthy, and just communities.

New to Social and Emotional Learning? Start here (2 min. read).

Think of a young person in your life. What skills will they need to achieve their hopes and dreams?

Chances are, you just named social and emotional skills - like staying motivated, communicating effectively, practicing curiosity, and working with others to solve problems. Social and emotional learning, or SEL, helps develop the skills we need for life.
Hear why students, parents, and educators want SEL in schools. Here are 3 things to know about social and emotional learning:

1. Social and emotional learning is a foundation for many of our most pressing priorities: SEL helps young people - and adults - learn and practice skills that set them up for academic success, fulfilling careers, healthy relationships, and responsible civic engagement.

2. The research is clear: Social and emotional learning in schools leads to positive outcomes, including better academic performance, and decreases in stress and anxiety.

3. There's no one-size-fits-all approach: Social and emotional learning brings families, schools, and communities together to make sure every child has caring relationships and what they need to learn, grow, and thrive.

Subscribe now for our expertly curated 3-part email series delivered straight to your inbox. We'll roundup the key facts from our website on SEL is, it matters, and it shows up in schools.

By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

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SEL can help all young people and adults thrive personally and academically, develop and maintain positive relationships, become lifelong learners, and contribute to a more caring, just world.

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Caring School Community® is a comprehensive, research-based social and emotional learning program that builds school-wide community, develops students’ social skills, and enables a transformative stance on discipline.

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Caring School Community is a CASEL SELect, research-based, social and emotional learning program for grades K-8.

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PHE Canada- Emotional Well-Being Activities

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PHE Canada- Emotional Well-Being Activities

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These emotional well-being education activities will help students better understand the concept of emotional well-being and learn strategies and skills that will help them manage emotions and overcome challenges.

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Emotional Well-Being Education Activities | PHE Canada

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Create an environment of acceptance and belonging for all students. Be aware of students’ backgrounds and home environments when learning about emotional well-being.

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PHE America is a non-profit dedicated to promoting active and healthy lifestyles.

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One of the reasons I went into teaching physical education is because I wanted to teach students the power of the mind-body connection. I wanted them to develop strength not only in physical skills, but in the mental skills as well.

I also want my students to learn that our thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and attitudes can positively or negatively affect our biological functioning. In other words, our minds can affect how healthy our bodies are. The opposite is true as well. The things we do with our physical body (e.g. what we eat, how much we exercise, how many hours of sleep we get) can impact our mental state, positively or negatively. This results in a complex relationship between our mind and body.

When I was younger, I struggled with anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. I would allow negative thoughts to control me. I struggled with my own self-worth and I had a lot of difficulties managing my emotions. Participating in physical education and sports gave me the opportunity, as a teenager, to work on my social-emotional skills and allowed me to eventually grow into the confident, happy person I am today. I am blessed to have gone through those past earlier experiences, for I see it as an opportunity to help teach my students and my own children how to manage their emotions and how to positively affect the mind-body connection. What a gift it is to be able to teach my elementary students these skills at a young age.

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) in Action
I am always looking for creative and unique ways to teach about the mind-body connection and SEL (Social Emotional Learning) skills in physical education. Since I enjoy creating Escape Rooms, I created an SEL Escape Room that is based on the CASTEL's (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) 5 core competencies to teaching SEL. These 5 competencies include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making.

Activity 1: Emotional Chains
I started by tying each team of students up in handcuffs. I made these handcuffs out of elastic and string. I then gave instructions to the students on how to tangle themselves up. Once tangled, I told the students they were in an Escape Room. Then I told the students a story about George The Giant. I explained to the students that they were captured, placed in chains, and locked up by George the Giant. I also mentioned that George use to be a Gentle Giant. He was very sweet and kind but then one day something happened. George let his emotions get built up and he just erupted! He became so angry and out of control! George became the Grizzly Giant. The emotions bothering George became his chains. He kidnapped all the students in Sayville, locked them up in these chains and wouldn't let them return home. I then instructed each group to work as a team to help untangle the emotional chains that George had placed them in.

The objective of this game was to teach my students how our emotions can feel like chains and the only way we can break free of these chains is by sorting out our feelings and learning coping skills to help us handle our emotions. When they broke out of the chains, they were given a clue to the next code and instructions to the next activity.

Activity 2: Domino Effect
The students were then instructed to create a " domino effect" showing George how his display of emotions have affected all of us. The students had to perform different locomotor skills as they raced around the gym collecting domino pieces. They had to follow the clues and eventually create a " domino effect" starting at their team base and ending at the finish cone, where a key to the next lock was hidden. This activity teaches the students that we have the exceptional power to feel and that our emotions run the gamut from sad to happy and everything that lies in between. These emotions are waves of energy, but they don't just affect us; they impact others around us, and still others that those initial people encounter. What you feel and give off radiates all around you. It touches those closest to you and then makes its way to those beyond that initial circle. In other words, we have the capacity to not only feel but to impact others with our display of emotions. These " dominos " represent those people we can affect with our displays of emotion.

Activity 3: Labeling Emotions
The next clue gave each team a handout of pictures of children displaying different emotions. The teams will try to label these emotions. Posters representing each of the 6 core emotions (Anger, Fear, Surprise, Happy, Disgust, Sad) were hung around the gym. Underneath each of these 6 core emotions posters, I created a color chart of the different shades of those emotions. The shades of emotions chart help narrow down each of the core emotions. As the colors get darker, the emotions become more specific. For example, the core emotion of anger was the color red. The shades of emotions chart underneath anger started pink with the word hurt and as each emotion on the chart became more specific, the color intensity increased. The end emotion was " Hostile " and the color was deep red.

The students will try to correctly identify the emotion in the picture. If the students label the emotions correctly, they will find the code to open the next lockbox. The objective of this activity is to teach the students that to deal effectively with emotions we must first name them. Labeling emotions helps us develop control over them. Being able to accurately identify them is essential to creating a plan to resolve those feelings. We can't create a plan or decide on coping strategies if we haven't labeled our feelings accurately.

Activity 4: Learning to Focus
In the next activity, the students were told that George " lost his noodles". The students had to help George " find his noodles " and help George "gather his thoughts". I placed swimming pool noodles on the opposite side of the gym. The students were given different teamwork tasks to help move the noodles back to the opposite side of the gym. Once all the noodles were back, the students were given a puzzle to solve. The puzzle had instructions written on it. The instructions said for the students to help teach George the difference between things he can control and things he can't control. On half of the noodles I wrote examples of things we can control such as how many times we smile today, our effort, time spent worrying, how we act on our feelings, etc. On the other half of the noodles, I wrote examples of things we can't control such as the weather, what others say, what others feel, your past, your brother/sister, etc. The students had to sort the noodles into two piles: things we can control and things we can't control. The code was written on the noodles with the things we can control.

The objective of this activity was to teach students that sometimes we have a lot of things going on at one time and it's hard to focus. We need to gather our " noodles " or thoughts and sort through them. Which ones do we have power over? Which ones can we control? Which ones can't we control? If we have no power over it then why do we waste so much time worrying or thinking about those things? This activity is an opportunity to teach students that they may not be able to prevent something, but they can control how they prepare for it. In addition, they can't control how someone else behaves, but you can control how you react. We can teach students to focus on their choices and we can help them develop effective strategies to manage their stress.

Activity 5: Coping Skills
Next, the students went on a scavenger hunt to help George find some effective coping skills. The students raced around the gym looking for pictures I made of different ways we can cope with our emotions. Some of these ways included exercise, listening to music, talking to a friend or adult, doing mindful breathing techniques, naming three things you are grateful for, etc. When the students found all the coping strategies, it led them to their final activity.

Activity 6: Positive Self-Talk
For the final task, I drew a giant brain on the poster board and cut out holes a little smaller than the size of ping pong balls. On some balls, I wrote examples of positive self-talk and on some balls I wrote examples of negative self-talk. The students had to first sort through the balls and separate them into a pile of positive self-talk and a pile of negative self-talk. The students had to " fill the brain" with positive self-talk. The team would work together to try to tip the board to get the ball to land into a hole in the brain. Once successful, they would move on to a new ball. When the brain was " full of positive self-talk" they would find the clue to the final box. Inside the final box, was a thank you letter from George for restoring him to his gentle ways and a thank you gift for the class. The thank-you gift was a class " Coping Toolkit " the students could use to prevent them from ever turning into George the Grizzly Giant. Inside the toolkit was crayons, a drawing pad, fidgets, stress balls, aromatherapy bags, bubbles, breathing beads, mindful snow globes, putty, and puzzles.

As teachers, we have a lifelong effect on our students. This impact involves not only the teaching of particular academic skills, but the fostering of students' social-emotional skills. I hope my students always remember that they need to be their biggest cheerleader. That their self-thoughts have the most impact on their actions. I hope I inspire my students to believe in themselves, challenge their inner negative thoughts and change them to positive affirmations. I hope my students learn to fall, to fail, and to rise and try again. I want them to understand that they have the power to be all they dream of becoming. What do you hope they will remember from you?

For more information, search for @Coach Bolger's Power PE. Here you will find my teaching resources and this SEL Escape Room with all activities and posters.

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SEL Activities in PE: Strengthening the Mind-Body Connection

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One of the reasons I went into teaching physical education is because I wanted to teach students the power of the mind-body connection. I wanted them to develop strength not only in physical skills, but in the mental skills as well.

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Blog: How to Integrate Social and Emotional Learning in PE to Improve Classroom Climate

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Blog: How to Integrate Social and Emotional Learning in PE to Improve Classroom Climate

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YouTube Video: Infusing Social-Emotional Learning into Physical Education

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YouTube Video: Infusing Social-Emotional Learning into Physical Education

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Emotion drives learning. Empowering students and inspiring an intrinsic motivation to lead active healthy lifestyles starts by creating a culture of trust. Social Emotional Learning concepts such as teamwork, growth mindset, communication, optimistic thinking, self-control, etc will be shared. Presented by Don Glover, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and Leigh Anderson (MS) White Bear Lake Public School.

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Infusing Social-Emotional Learning into Physical Education

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Social and emotional learning activities for families and educators

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Social and emotional learning activities for families and educators

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75+ Free social emotional learning lessons

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75+ Free social emotional learning lessons

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Welcome to our supplemental Social Emotional Learning Activities page!

As you will see below, many of the supplemental SEL activities and lesson plans include characters from our game-based, social emotional learning interventions. And when you use the online programs with your students, these activities will reinforce the learning that occurs during game play.

These supplemental resources - lessons, activities, and worksheets - are in the following SELskill areas: Communication, Cooperation, Emotion Regulation, Empathy, Impulse Control, and Social Initiation.

These resources are age-appropriate for elementary and middle school students and are typically used in a classroom or a small group setting. And in most cases, if materials are required for the activity, they are items that you already have in your classroom or office.
Note: Please share this page on your school website so other educators may also benefit.
Social Emotional Learning at Home

Additional Resources for Social Emotional Learning

Our classroom management plan is a step-by-step guide and includes proven strategies, tips and printables for elementary school teachers, and it covers four key components for establishing a successful, well-managed classroom.

These free downloadable posters will decorate your classroom and be great teaching resources, reinforcing social and emotional skills in your classroom and reminding students to practice their skills like emotion regulation, impulse control, empathy, and more.

Social Emotional Learning Quotes

For each of the topics below, we have curated a list of quotes. You can incorporate these quotes in your social emotional learning lessons, add them to social media images, create classroom posters, or write one on your whiteboard each day.

Need Something More Engaging And Effective For A Few Students?

Simply request a FREE Centervention educator account and start using our online programs!

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95 Free Social Emotional Learning Activities

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95 free social emotional learning activities, worksheets, and lessons to help students in elementary and middle school. Most are no-prep and ready to go.

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Created by Sam Lake

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Created by Sam Lake

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Created by Sam Lake

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Created by Sam Lake

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Created by Sam Lake

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The Emotion Motion Podcast®️ takes listeners on a journey through storytelling designed to engage children, their families, and their teachers in movement and creative expression. Episodes include opportunities to put your emotions in motion through play and movement while practicing skills like empathy, self-awareness, regulating emotions, mindfulness, and more!

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The Emotion Motion Podcast takes listeners on a journey through storytelling designed to engage children, their families and their teachers in movement and creative expression. Weekly episodes include opportunities to put your emotions in motion through play and movement while practicing skills like empathy, self-awareness, regulating emotions, mindfulness, and more! Follow The Emotion Motion Podcast on Instagram and Facebook for more fun!

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Emotion Motion Podcasts for Social Emotional Learning (SEL) | Move This World

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The Emotion Motion Podcast takes listeners on a journey through storytelling designed to engage children, their families and their teachers in movement and creative expression. Weekly episodes include opportunities to put your emotions in motion through play and movement while practicing skills like empathy, self-awareness, regulating emotions, mindfulness, and more!

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Social-emotional skills, such as empathy, emotion management, and positive communication, are important inside and outside of classrooms. Their impact continues long after students leave school and enter society. A first-of-its-kind social-emotional learning (SEL) podcast, Grow Kinder® features conversations with thought leaders in education who explore how SEL can help us navigate society’s most pressing challenges and create a kinder, more compassionate world.

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Grow Kinder Podcast | Committee for Children

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Social-emotional skills, such as empathy, emotion management, and positive communication, are important inside and outside of classrooms. Their impact continues long after students leave school and enter society. A first-of-its-kind social-emotioRead More

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Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is a hot topic in schools and parent communities right now. Today Gail Markin (parent, school counsellor and District SEL Lead) and Dr. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl (Psychologist, Professor and world renowned SEL expert) unpack what parents and caregivers can do to support SEL at home, as well as learn about the role of schools in promoting SEL.

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Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is a hot topic in schools and parent communities right now. Today Gail Markin (parent, school counsellor and District SEL Lead) and Dr. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl (Psychologist, Professor and world renowned SEL expert) unpack what parents and caregivers can do to support SEL at home, as well as learn about the role of schools in promoting SEL.

Gail Markin (shown above) is a middle school counsellor and a district teacher supporting social and emotional learning in the Langley School District. Gail came to the education field with a background in social work, family counselling and parent education. She moved to the education field after working for many years as an involved parent and seeing the impact and importance of home and school and community working together. She is passionate about parents understanding social and emotional learning because she knows what research says about the impact it can have on health, happiness and success for all.

Dr. Kim Schonert-Reichl is an Applied Developmental Psychologist and a Professor in Faculty of Education at UBC and the Director of the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP), an interdisciplinary research unit focused on child development at UBC. Before beginning her graduate work, she was a middle school teacher and a high school teacher for "at risk" youth. Known as a world renowned expert in the area of social and emotional learning (SEL), Kim's research focuses on identification of the processes that foster positive human qualities such as empathy, compassion, altruism, and resiliency in children and adolescents. She is the recipient of the 2015 Joseph E. Zins Distinguished Scholar Award for outstanding research on social and emotional learning (SEL), and the 2009 Confederation of University Faculty Associations BC's Paz Buttedahl Career Achievement Award in recognition of her sustained outstanding contributions to the community beyond the academy through research over the major portion of her career.

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Social and Emotional Learning: Supporting Kids at Home and School

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Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is a hot topic in schools and parent communities right now. Today Gail Markin (parent, school counsellor and District SEL Lead) and Dr. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl (Psychologist, Professor and world renowned SEL expert) unpack what parents and caregivers can do to support SEL at home, as well as learn about the role of schools in promoting SEL.

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Social and emotional learning competencies PDF

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Social and emotional learning competencies PDF

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SEL posters for classrooms from School Mental Health Ontario

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SEL posters for classrooms from School Mental Health Ontario

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Let's Talk Social and Emotional Learning Podcast

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Let's Talk Social and Emotional Learning Podcast

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This wide-ranging, three-episode series from 2022 breaks down the what, why, and how of social and emotional learning.

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Arts

In Search of the Magic Bullet Results from the Building Audiences for Sustainability Initiative

1. Wallace

2. Let's Talk Social And Emotion...

Let's Talk Social and Emotional Learning Podcast

Episode 1: What is SEL and How has it evolved?

Let's Talk Social and Emotional Learning Podcast

Episode 2: High-Quality SEL and the New Navigating SEL Guide

Let's Talk Social and Emotional Learning Podcast

Episode 3: The Intersection of SEL and Equity

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Let's Talk Social and Emotional Learning Podcast

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This wide-ranging, three-episode series from 2022 breaks down the what, why, and how of social and emotional learning.

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This website has a collection of "Everyday SEL Reflection Prompts" that cover a wide range of topics, from self-awareness and managing emotions to goal setting and relationships

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When tragedy strikes, like a mass shooting or traumatic event, our first thought is often to find ways to help. While we may not know what others are going through, we can empathize and give words of encouragement through cards, drawings, music, poetry and art.

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The Wallace Foundation offers a downloadable PDF with reflection prompts geared towards students. You can easily adapt these prompts for self-reflection as well

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Sample reflection questions, aligned with the five core competencies of SEL, that support students' self-awareness and prioritizes their insights into their own strengths and challenges.

Download Resource Purchase A Printed Copy

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Sample reflection questions, aligned with the five core competencies of SEL, that support students' self-awareness and prioritizes their insights into their own strengths and challenges. Download Resource Purchase A Printed Copy

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This section offers a treasure trove: free downloadable tools like "The Zones of Regulation Free Stuff" with activity cards, posters, and more. ou'll also find information about purchasable materials, workshops, and the new Zones of Regulation Digital Curriculum.

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Discover practical tools for
regulation and emotional control

Shop Now

10 years of helping students-over 260,000 copies of The Zones of Regulation curriculum sold worldwide!

Hearing a lot of buzz about The Zones of Regulation? Find out first-hand why this best-selling social emotional learning curriculum has been adopted across thousands of mainstream classrooms worldwide. Students ages 4-18+ learn how to organize their feelings into four different Zones and use metacognitive strategies to regulate within specific Zones to meet their personal, organizational, and social goals. This easy-to-teach regulation curriculum provides important practical social emotional learning tools to practice regulation of one's feelings across situations at home, school, and in the community.

We are thrilled and proud to provide you with four additional products to focus teaching of The Zones of Regulation curriculum when working with two different age groups. In all, you'll find 11 individual Zones of Regulation products and 7 budget-conscious Zones of Regulation product bundles to match your students' developmental ages and meet their social learning needs. Whether you're new to The Zones of Regulation or a seasoned practitioner, you'll find flexible options for teaching these self-regulation concepts, strategies, and tools more deeply within specific developmental age groups.

Engage children in learning about their feelings and emotional zones with two charming, illustrated storybooks ( The Road to Regulation and The Regulation Station, sold as a one-product set), The Road to Regulation Poster, which summarizes an important learning pathway, and a hands-on regulation strategy-filled Tools to Try for Cards for Kids card deck. These new visual, multisensory products function at their best when all used together to supplement The Zones of Regulation curriculum. The storybooks and very practical card deck, which provides over 50 tools and strategies, can also easily be used at home and in the community to extend learning about managing within one's Zones of Regulation. The Tools to Try Cards for Kids card deck and the 2-Storybook Set are also available as digital products. The digital 2-Storybook Set includes audio files.

Learn More

The Road to Regulation & The Regulation Station: Understanding and Managing Feelings & Emotions | 2-Storybook Set: The Zones of Regulation Series

The Road to Regulation & The Regulation Station: Understanding and Managing Feelings & Emotions | 2-Storybook Set: The Zones of Regulation Series Ages: 5-11 A 2021 multi-award winner! Two award-winning storybooks engage children ages 5-11 in learning The Zones of Regulation framework and curriculum. The first, The Road to Regulation, describes and explains four different emotional zones and how we feel in each of them. Through an imaginary adventure to "The Regulation Station," the second storybook introduces the use of "tools" (strategies) to help students identify ways they can manage their different feelings at school and home. Learn more

Tools to Try Cards for Kids: Regulation Strategies to Focus, Calm, Think, Move, Breathe, and Connect | The Zones of Regulation Series

Tools to Try Cards for Kids: Regulation Strategies to Focus, Calm, Think, Move, Breathe, and Connect | The Zones of Regulation Series Ages: 5-10 A choice rich, portable strategy card deck to help kids ages 5-10 metacognitively explore and practice over 50 self-regulation tools at home, in school, or in therapeutic and community settings. The 4" x 6" two-sided strategy cards are divided into 5 categories that describe strategies to focus, calm, think, move, breathe, and connect developed from lessons in the popular Learn more The Zones of Regulation book.

The Road to Regulation Poster | The Zones of Regulation Series

The Road to Regulation Poster | The Zones of Regulation Series Ages: 5-11 Adapted from the colorful layout in Learn more The Regulation Station storybook, this 24" x 18" poster is a flexible, real-time reminder of the four steps needed to (1) recognize your feelings, (2) identify your Zone, (3) choose a tool, and (4) use the tool to help regulate your feelings experienced across different situations. Use it at home, school, or clinic to review information with children while reading the 2-Storybook Set and to support lessons from The Zones of Regulation curriculum.

Tools to Try Cards for Tweens &Teens was developed to speak to the hearts and minds of this age group. It provides direct instruction on 50 regulation tools and metacognitive strategies. Tools to Try Cards for Tweens & Teens is also an important new resource to use with the Navigating The Zones game and its graduated competitive-play Advanced Pack. This very practical card deck travels easily and should also to be used to remind students of their choices to assist regulation of their feelings across environments (school, home, and community) to encourage their autonomy. This card deck is also available as a digital product.

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The Zones of Regulation: A Curriculum Designed to Foster Self-Regulation and Emotional Control

The Zones of Regulation: A Curriculum Designed to Foster Self-Regulation and Emotional Control Ages: 4+ New updated emotions illustrations! This popular framework and curriculum teaches strategies for managing emotions and sensory needs to individuals ages 4+. Rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy, the framework uses four colors to help individuals identify how they are feeling in the moment given their energy, emotions, and level of alertness, creating a colored system to guide them to metacognitive strategies and tools to support regulation. Help students learn how to increase their ability to regulate their emotions, manage their sensory needs, and become more self-aware and skillful problem solvers. Learn more

Tools to Try Cards for Tweens & Teens: Regulation Strategies to Focus, Calm, Think, Move, Breathe, and Connect | The Zones of Regulation Series

Tools to Try Cards for Tweens & Teens: Regulation Strategies to Focus, Calm, Think, Move, Breathe, and Connect | The Zones of Regulation Series Ages: 11+ The Tools to Try Cards for Tweens & Teens is a multisensory strategy card deck that helps students explore, choose, and practice 50 self-regulation tools at home, in school, or in therapeutic and community settings. The 2-sided cards are divided into 5 categories that describe strategies to focus, calm, think, move, breathe, and connect. This hands-on metacognitive supplement to The Zones of Regulation curriculum pairs well with Navigating The Zones game and its supplemental Advanced Pack for additional levels of play. Learn more

Get Started for Tweens & Teens Bundle | The Zones of Regulation Series

Get Started for Tweens & Teens Bundle | The Zones of Regulation Series Ages: 11 - 18 This powerhouse bundle includes the best-selling Learn more The Zones of Regulation curriculum, the Navigating The Zones board game and its extended play Advanced Pack, and our Tools to Try Cards for Tweens & Teens. Discover visual supports, strategies, and activities to enrich teaching of core curriculum ideas. Together these products help foster students' learning and practice of regulation strategies for the social emotional scenarios within the game and their everyday lives.

The Zones of Regulation

The Zones of Regulation is a framework and easy-to-use curriculum for teaching regulation strategies for managing emotions and sensory needs to children, students, and clients ages 4+. Rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy, the framework uses four colors to help individuals identify how they are feeling in the moment given their energy, emotions, and level of alertness. By understanding how to read their bodies, detect triggers, think about the social context, and consider their reactions, individuals learn a system for how to increase their ability to regulate their emotions, manage their sensory needs, and become more self-aware and skillful problem solvers.

Get the Curriculum

Resources to use at school & home

Further supplement the development of your students' regulation as part of their social emotional learning with these free, timely strategies and tools when specifically using The Zones of Regulation curriculum to help individuals ages 5-18+. These free resources provide select examples of deeper instruction when using some of the 11 Zones of Regulation products.

We will be posting new free Zones of Regulation activities as quickly and as often as we can, so check back often!

Learn More

Budget-Conscious Bundles of Books, Card Decks, and Games for Ages 5-18+

Explore our convenient Zones of Regulation product bundles that help teach and implement The Zones of Regulation framework, curriculum, and strategies across developmental ages in mainstream primary and secondary classrooms-and save while you're doing it!

5 new bundles include our new products for ages 5-18+!

Learn More

Save on social emotional learning tools for different age groups

All-in-One Across Age Groups Bundle | The Zones of Regulation Series

All-in-One Across Age Groups Bundle | The Zones of Regulation Series Ages: 5 - 18 Get in the zone! This bundle provides all the books and games developed to teach students ages 5-18+ Learn more The Zones of Regulation curriculum with fidelity. It includes the core curriculum The Zones of Regulation, the 2-Storybook Set, two Tools to Try card decks for different age groups, the Navigating The Zones game, and its supplemental Advanced Pack. Save 10% with this bundle and have the flexibility and developmental tools to engage youngsters, tweens, and teens.

Get Started with Ages 5-11 Bundle | The Zones of Regulation Series

Get Started with Ages 5-11 Bundle | The Zones of Regulation Series Ages: 5-11 Ready to start teaching The Zones of Regulation to children at developmental ages 5-11? This bundle includes 4 easy-to-use products to get started: Learn more The Zones of Regulation curriculum, two storybooks that bring curriculum lessons to life, and a multisensory regulation strategy card deck, which includes over 50 direct instruction tool cards. Use all products together to maximize social learning at home and school.

Get Started for Tweens & Teens Bundle | The Zones of Regulation Series

Get Started for Tweens & Teens Bundle | The Zones of Regulation Series Ages: 11 - 18 This powerhouse bundle includes the best-selling Learn more The Zones of Regulation curriculum, the Navigating The Zones board game and its extended play Advanced Pack, and our Tools to Try Cards for Tweens & Teens. Discover visual supports, strategies, and activities to enrich teaching of core curriculum ideas. Together these products help foster students' learning and practice of regulation strategies for the social emotional scenarios within the game and their everyday lives.

Explore The Zones of Regulation Strategies on Any Screen!

Make it easy to teach, explore, learn, and practice regulation and emotional control strategies on any screen with our brand new Zones of Regulation digital products.

The Zones of Regulation app and the Exploring Emotions app supplement the lessons in the curriculum book with interactive games filled with adventure and rewards. Apps available on Mac App Store, the Apple App Store, and Amazon.

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Testimonials from Parents, Teachers, and Clinicians

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New Resources to Use With The Zones of Regulation Curriculum

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Hearing a lot of buzz about The Zones of Regulation? Find out first-hand why this best-selling social emotional learning curriculum has been adopted across thousands of mainstream classrooms worldwide. Students ages 4-18+ learn how to organize their feelings into four different Zones and use metacognitive strategies to regulate within specific Zones to meet their personal, organizational, and social goals.

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This website by occupational therapists offers a clear explanation of the Zones framework, along with activity ideas to support emotional regulation in different zones

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Zones of Regulation Activities Story - The OT Toolbox

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The Zones of Regulation® program is a self-regulation tool to help kids identify, address, and use strategies to achieve self-control and emotional regulation in a non-judgmental and safe way.