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Free Social Work Tools and Resources: SocialWorkersToolbox.com

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Zones of Regulation – Free Worksheets, Posters, and Activities for Kids (57 pages)

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The Zones of Regulation framework is a powerful tool designed to teach children how to understand and manage their emotions, behaviours, and sensory needs. Developed by Leah Kuypers, this approach…

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14 Zones of Regulation Activities and Printables for Kids

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A list of Zones of Regulation activities and printables for school-age children to help reinforce the Zones curriculum.

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Copy of Zones charts for class corner.docx

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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. All of us can use zones of regulation activities to monitor, maintain, and change our level of regulation. Here, you will find zones of regulation activities and tips to work on self-regulation of emotions through fun and interactive activities. These are DIY Zones activities that you can make as part of your occupational therapy treatment and can be used over and over again!

Using interactive zones of regulation activities can be helpful for kids who struggle with self-regulation.

Zones of Regulation Activities

Activities to support emotional regulation and coping skills can come in many forms. In this resource, you will find specific activities to add to a zones of regulation toolbox, so that monitoring and maintaining a functional level of regulation is possible in any situation. There are zones of regulation posters, worksheets, self-regulation checks, zones of regulation games, and even cootie catchers. All of these regulation tools are strategies to help kids become more aware of their self in order to function. Let's break it down further...

What is self-regulation?

Well, let's break it down. "Self" means you or me. "Regulation" means the process of being in control or to have management. So, add these two terms together and you get "self-regulation". Self-regulation means you or me being in control and having management of ourselves.

Self-regulation is a skill that many children have a difficult time learning and achieving without help. In a given day, a child (and an adult) encounters multiple situations and circumstances that require an awareness of self and others as well as the ability to have or gain self-control.

Generally speaking, a child should achieve an optimal level of self-awareness and mindfulness to identify their inner feelings and emotions and be ready to regulate themselves when the time comes. They need to learn strategies and techniques that work for them to assist them in leaving a less optimal level in order to get back to a "ready-to-go" level of regulation.

Here are more mindfulness activities that kids can use in their Zones of Regulation Toolbox.

Self-regulation CurriculA

There are many different programs that offer self-regulation curriculum. These are regulation programs and interventions that can assist a child (and adult) to learn the skills necessary to achieve emotional regulation fit for every situation, circumstance, and environment.

Amazon affiliate links are included below.

Many programs, curriculum or interventions are created by occupational therapy professionals e.g., Zones of Regulation, The Alert Program, Test Drive, The Sensory Connection, and a new program called, The Regulation Rocket.

One of the common self-regulation programs is the Zones of Regulation.

The Zones of Regulation program is what most of our children use in their schools and homes. This program helps kiddos to identify, address and use strategies to achieve good self-control and emotional regulation in a non-judgmental and safe way. Using the zones helps to take the focus off of the child as being "good" or "bad" and places the focus on obtaining control to get back to the "green zone."

The self-regulation program teachers children and their parents or teachers how to recognize the relationship between emotions, feelings, and their internal "state of being" with the behaviors and actions that we see. This relationship impacts attention, learning, and emotions. When students understand the connection between their arousal states and their ability to self-regulate, they can identify different zones or levels which they are currently in at any given time. They can then use regulation tools or strategies to impact their arousal so they can appropriately and efficiently respond to the demands of a given task.

What is regulation?

Self-regulation is the ability to attain, maintain, and change one's arousal level, emotions, and behaviors. This ability to self-control relies on impulse control, working memory, and generally speaking, the ability to keep oneself "in check". The ability to experience feelings and desires and make decisions based on those concepts requires motivation, willpower, higher level thinking.

It requires the ability to self-monitor our thoughts, actions, feelings, internal body processes (interoception), and then make choices. These decisions can sometimes occur in a moment. For some, this instantaneous decision-making can lead to poor regulation.

Self-regulation can refer to emotional regulation or behavioral regulation. Self-reflection of feelings, emotions, and our response to situations is the ability to use emotional regulation.

Emotional regulation can look like a bad decision based on inner thoughts, or being in a grumpy mood and as a result being mean to a friend. Emotional regulation has to do with inner decisions related to emotions and moods.

Behavioral regulation refers to decisions related to actions and what we say, do, or think in response to inner thoughts and desires.

I think we can all say that one time or another we had something that we were expected to do but we really did NOT want to do. Maybe that was mow the lawn when we really wanted to watch a movie inside. Maybe we wanted to sleep in when we actually had to get up for an early meeting. These would be examples of behavioral regulation. Knowing that those tasks needed to be done and making the decision to do them rather than giving into impulses is a form of self-regulation.

We have a few blog posts here on the website that explain self-regulation in greater detail. This article on using the Mightier program for self-regulation shows how to use the application and game to help a child identify their feelings and utilize coping strategies that impact those various emotional regulation changes. The games adjust to challenge the child as they become more proficient in coping strategies.

In this self-regulation craft and activity, we used a lion and a lamb concept to bring the abstract meaning of regulation to a concrete place of learning and exploration, by helping kids to see that self regulation strategies can make a huge difference in paying attention and learning in the classroom or completing tasks that need to be done at home.

In this article, we covered the connection between executive functioning skills and emotional regulation.

What are the zones of regulation

Well, in brief summation, the Zones of Regulation program is a curriculum or framework created by an occupational therapist, Leah Kuypers, which is designed to help a child navigate their sometimes confusing emotions. The curriculum helps a child to achieve self-regulation and emotional control by gaining skills in self-control and problem-solving based on targeted zones that are identified with colors.

These zones help a child recognize, categorize, and communicate their feelings or emotions based on a specific zone. This makes the program an effective and fluid tool for a child to understand, learn, and achieve without feeling judged or different.

Let's quickly review the zones so you can have a better understanding of the reason behind my fun tool creations. I designed these tools for individual children to help them better understand and navigate their emotions while identifying strategies that help them shift from a less desirable zone to a more calm and focused zone, which is better for participating and learning at school, home, church, and in therapy.

What do the Colors in the Zones of Regulation Program Mean?

The Red Zone is an extremely heightened state of alertness with intense emotions and is typically viewed as the child being "out-of-control."

Red zone behaviors might include:

Anger

Rage

Out of control

Mad

"Hands on" physical reactions

Terror

Extreme feelings

Feel "ready to explode"

Devastation

Red Zone Activities may include:

The Yellow Zone is entering a heightened state of alertness and elevated emotions typically viewed as heading toward the red zone, but the child still has some control.

Examples of Yellow Zone behaviors include:

Yellow Zone Activities may include:

Stretching

Yoga

Enjoy nature

Drink a glass of water

Listen to music

Write in a journal

Activities listed under the other zones

The Green Zone is the optimal level of alertness and is typically viewed as the child being "good to go" and ready for leaning and social interactions.

Examples of the Green Zone behaviors include:

Green Zone Activities may include:

Write in a journal

List out accomplishments

Help someone

Reach out to a friend

Activities listed under the other zones

The Blue Zone is a low level of alertness typically viewed as the child running slow.

Examples of Blue Zone responses include:

Blue Zone Activities may include:

Talk to someone

Rest

Build a puzzle

Read a book

Color or draw

Think about positive mindset strategies

Activities listed under the other zones

Fun Zones of Regulation Activities

What is the best part about the fun tools I created? YOU can create them and use them with most any regulation program based on the programs framework.

One of the key pieces to the Zones of Regulation is the point that there is no one "right" zone to be in. It's OK to be in the red zone or the yellow zone. We all have fluctuations of moods and behaviors. The part that is important for us as advocates for children is to offer strategies to help kids understand and identify their feelings and emotions. It's important for kids to understand how their reactions impact others, particularly when they are not able to manage their emotional or behavioral response.

All of the Zones of Regulation activities that are listed above can be interchanged, and used as able to help move from one zone to another. Each child will be different in the zones strategies that works for them.

The resources in the Sensory Lifestyle Handbook really go into detail on this concept, in using movement and sensory tools as regulation strategies and coping tools to help kids function, within their daily functional tasks. For example, it is possible to incorporate regulating activities within the classroom, home tasks like self-care or chores, and the community. Check out the Sensory Lifestyle Handbook for more information on this concept.

Look at the fun tools I created and take the general structure and design to build essential tools to go with whatever program you may be utilizing in therapy, the classroom, or at home.

1. Zones Pocket Play for Emotions and Coping Strategies

In this zones activity, kids can make the tools they need to work on self-regulation. Have kiddos fold file folders to create a pocket on the bottom. Trim off the edges. Use hot glue to turn the large pocket into four sections (red, yellow, green, and blue). Color and label the sections based on zones. Have kiddos label craft sticks with either emotions or coping strategies and insert into the correct pockets.

This Zones Pocket Play for Emotions and Coping Strategies Folders can be used in the home or classroom.

2. Zone Check-In Tube

Have kiddos paint or wrap colored tape around paper towel tubes according to the zone colors. If painting, wait to dry. Follow up with kiddos writing emotion words or even drawing emotion facial expressions onto the matching tube color. Place a hair band onto the tube to roll up and down as needed to perform check-ins with children throughout the day.

3. Zone Check-In Frame

Hot glue colored craft sticks according to zone colors (red, yellow, green and blue) to create a square frame and then have child write the zone title on one side and zone emotion words on the other side OR have child write zone emotion words on one side and coping strategies on the other side. Place a clothespin onto the frame to clip as needed to perform check-ins with children throughout the day. This tool can also be used to teach and review while learning the program zones as well.

4. Zone Grab Bag Game

Have kiddos create an emotion identification grab bag game. This can be done in differentiated ways:

* Draw emotional expressions as faces on matching color dot stickers and place on bottle caps (for younger children).
* Simply draw emotional facial expressions on bottle caps directly with a black marker (for older children).
* Draw emotional facial expressions on plastic spoons with matching colored markers (for younger children).
* Draw emotional facial expressions on plastic spoons with a black marker (for older children).

Once these are created, toss only the caps or only the spoons into a grab bag or simply toss them all into one bag.

When children grab a cap or spoon from the bag, they decide which colored mat they belong on to identify the correct emotion and zone.

4. Zones of Regulation Craft

Use this Lion and lamb self- regulation craft to identify emotions and talk about "lamb" emotions and responses and "lion" emotions and responses.

5. Make a Coping Skills Toolbox

Identifying coping strategies that work for each individual can make all the difference in having a set of "go to" regulation strategies when the need presents itself. This massive list of coping strategies for kids are perfect for filling a coping skills toolbox. Write them out on slips of paper, add them to a flip book, make them into coping skills Popsicle sticks, or add them to a coping strategies bulletin board. Kids can go through the various calming and alerting activities and use them to self-regulate.

6. Make a Zones of Regulation Chart

Use a file folder or slide a paper into a page protector to create a Zones of Regulation chart using movement activities in the classroom. Kids can mark off their zone and pick from a coping mechanism to help them get to a zone in which they can learn and pay attention.

7. Keep a Self-Reflection Journal

Using a printed journal like our Self-Reflection Journal or the Impulse Control Journal can help kids identify more about themselves, become more self-aware, while reflecting on their day and week. They can write down their actions, emotions, and responses and then look back at what worked and what didn't work. By using a written journal, children can describe good and poor choices that they've made and then write out tools that they can try next time. Journaling is a conversation tool to use when talking about what works and what doesn't work for a child with a variety of needs.

The Impulse Control Journal takes self-reflection a step further by working on the impulses that impact behavioral regulation or emotional regulation and the actions that we see. This tool is effective in helping kids and teens to identify emotions, reactions, responses, and learning strategies to change their regulation through self-awareness. Kids can choose strategies independently and see progress by working through the Impulse Control Journal pages.

8. Identify emotions through Play

The first step of self-regulation is the ability to identify emotions. Social emotional learning begins with naming emotions, matching emotion names to faces and body language. When kids identify emotions, they can begin to develop empathy for others but also become more self-aware of their own emotions, the things that impact those feelings, and how they respond. Some ways to identify emotions through play include:

Using play to identify emotions can be done in so many pretend play activities.

Use pictures or video modeling to help kids identify emotions and label the terms.

Act out emotions with toys and name the emotions that the toys are demonstrating.

9. Explore self regulation skills

When kids explore self regulation skills by experimenting with sensory input, kids can identify the terms that their body feels when they are exposed to that sensory input. If done during a calm time, when the child is at high alert and concentration, they are able to fully experience the input without distraction. Kids can then create a zones toolbox using the self-regulation skills that work for them.

Try these self regulation skills exploration with kids:

Try a variety of sensory foods and ask the child to identify how their mouth feels with each food. Does the food taste salty, sweet, chewy, crunchy, or sour? How does their mouth feel after trying each food? Awake, sleepy, happy, calm, alert? Ask the child to put a name to each food. Mark these down on a chart and use this as a regulation tool.

Try different types of movement using Sensory Diet Cards. Kids can try the sensory activity and identify how their body feels. Mark it down and add those calming or alerting activities to their regulation toolbox.

Self Regulation in the Classroom

Self regulation in the classroom can impact learning, attention, focus, and student interaction.

Now that you know some zones of regulation activities, you can use them in the classroom or learning environment. Whether that be in the traditional school setting, in homeschooling, or in remote learning settings, the Zones of Regulation is effective to foster learning.

Go ahead and make these fun and easy Zones of Regulation tools to help your kiddos learn emotional regulation and self-control to help them succeed in their daily lives so they can feel good and remain cool. Kiddos will enjoy the interactive components and you'll see learning and regulation evolve! They can be used at home or in the school environment.

In the learning environment, kids can identify how characters of a book or reading assignment feel.

Help students identify emotions in magazines or online.

Identify specific tasks that the characters could do to get to a zone that would help them in the situation they are in. This can be a great group activity for students.

Come up with group or small group coping tools that students can use as a brain break or movement break.

Have students make a DIY quiet fidget tool that they can keep in their pencil pouch or desk.

Explore these sensory strategies for school and come up with regulation activities that work for the learning situation.

Add movement to learning. These monthly movement activities can work for many themes. These heavy work activity cards can be used in the classroom or with various learning themes.

There are so many options for zones of regulation activities for kids. What would you add to this list?

This post was written in part, by The OT Toolbox contributor, Regina Allen. Read about Regina in her Contributor Author Spotlight.

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Zones of Regulation Activities - 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. All of us can use zones of regulation activities to monitor, maintain, and change our level of regulation.

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Zones of Regulation - River Springs Elementary

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Zones of Regulation - River Springs Elementary

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The Ultimate Guide to Implementing the Zones of Regulation in Your Classroom

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Do you dream of a classroom where students not only excel academically but also possess the emotional intelligence to navigate their feelings and behaviours with confidence? If so, the Zones of Reg…

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The Zones of Regulation is a complete social-emotional learning curriculum, created to teach children self-regulation and emotional control. It's often taught in school or therapy settings but the curriculum is appropriate for parents to teach at home, too.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
Leah Kuypers created The Zones of Regulation in 2011. She and her team provide training and resources for schools and individuals looking to use the Zones Framework with children.

This article is an overview for parents. It covers a brief explanation ofwhat the Zones of Regulation are, how they're taught to children, and how you can begin using the concepts in your own home.

It does not serve as a replacement for the official Zones Framework, simply a starting point for parents who want to learn more.

The Zone Colors

The Zones of Regulation uses four colors to help children self-identify how they're feeling and categorize it based on color.

The curriculum also helps children better understand their emotions, sensory needs, and thinking patterns. They learn different strategies to help them cope and manage their emotions based on which color zone they're in.

Additionally, the Zones of Regulation helps kids recognize their own triggers, learn to read facial expressions, develop problem-solving skills, and become more attuned to how their actions affect other people ( Kuypers, L.M, 2011).

The Green Zone

The green zone is used to describe when you're in a calm state of alertness.

Being in the green zone means you are calm, focused, happy, or ready to learn. This is predominantly the state you want your child to be in.

It's also the state most needed in the classroom in order to learn.

The Yellow Zone

The yellow zone describes when you have a heightened sense of alertness. This isn't always a bad thing, and you typically still have some control when you're in the yellow zone.

Being in the yellow means you may feel frustrated, anxious or nervous. But, it could also mean you're feeling excited, silly, or hyper - which is okay in the right situations.

The Red Zone

The red zone describes an extremely heightened state of intense emotions. When a person reaches the red zone, they're no longer about to control their emotions or reactions.
This is the zone kids are in during meltdowns.
Being in the red zone means you're feeling anger, rage, terror, or complete devastation and feel out of control.

The Blue Zone

The blue zone, on the other hand, is used when a person is feeling low states of alertness or arousal.

When you're in the blue zone you may be feeling down - sad, sick, tired, or bored. You're still in control, as you are in the yellow zone, but with low energy emotions.

Teaching the Zones of Regulation

You can purchase the entire Zones curriculum online from Social Thinking.

However, as a parent, be aware that most of the activities and lessons are created for small groups of children so you may need to make modifications to the lesson plans.

But, there are lots of ways you can help your child learn the Zones at home without using or purchasing the entire curriculum.

Many activities and printables are available online and I am currently developing some free tools for parents.
Visit this page to find activities: Zones of Regulation Printables & Activities
Free Zones of Regulation Webinar

You can sign up and watch a free webinar where the Zones of Regulation creator, Leah Kuypers, talks about:

Zones of Regulation Apps

There are also two Zones of Regulation Apps available from the Amazon app store. They aren't free, but they are low cost.

Identifying Zones

The first step in teaching the Zones to your child is teaching your child the four zones and which emotions fall into each zone. The apps and the webinar above can help you accomplish this.

It's necessary that your child is able to accurately identify which emotions belong in which zone. This is the first step to their success.

You'll achieve this through practicing with your child, talking about The Zones frequently and in different environments, and encouraging them to identify which zone they're in.

Zones of Regulation Bingo- Use these free Zones bingo sheets but instead of playing a traditional Bingo game, try this: Get kids to use red, green. blue, and yellow bingo chips to mark which zone each of the feelings belongs to.

Books about Feelings - Read different books about feelings to your child and actively refer to which zone the feelings in the book belong to.

Match TV characters to Zones - When you're watching TV with your child, ask them to identify which zone their favorite characters are in throughout the show. This is a great way to turn your child's screen time into a learning experience and to show your child that the zones can be found everywhere.

Body Check Activity - Use this activity to help your child identify how they experience different emotions. Talk about which zone these different feelings are in.

Snuggle Buddies - These Snuggle Buddies are from Generation Mindful and they are perfect for children who are learning the Zones. The pocket in the back of the snuggle buddy has four colored emojis - blue, green, yellow, and red. All three of my kids have one and even my 3-year-old is able to explain how to match these to the Zones.

Getting Back to The Green Zone

Along with being able to identify the zones, and know what zone they're in, your child also needs to know strategies to help them get back to the green zone.

Practicing co-regulation and self-regulation strategies while your child is in the green zone will help them learn the best ways to get back there during times when they're feeling stressed, frustrated, sad, etc.

Here are some posts to help you get started:

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The Zones of Regulation - An Overview of The Zones for Parents

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The Zones of Regulation is a complete social-emotional learning curriculum, created to teach children self-regulation and emotional control. It's often taught in school or therapy settings but the curriculum is appropriate for parents to teach at home, too. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Leah Kuypers created The Zones of Regulation in 2011.

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Zones of Regulation Explained for Kids 💙 Social Emotional Learning Animation for Elementary School

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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. All of us can use zones of regulation activities to monitor, maintain, and change our level of regulation. Here, you will find zones of regulation activities and tips to work on self-regulation of emotions through fun and interactive activities. These are DIY Zones activities that you can make as part of your occupational therapy treatment and can be used over and over again!

Using interactive zones of regulation activities can be helpful for kids who struggle with self-regulation.

Zones of Regulation Activities

Activities to support emotional regulation and coping skills can come in many forms. In this resource, you will find specific activities to add to a zones of regulation toolbox, so that monitoring and maintaining a functional level of regulation is possible in any situation. There are zones of regulation posters, worksheets, self-regulation checks, zones of regulation games, and even cootie catchers. All of these regulation tools are strategies to help kids become more aware of their self in order to function. Let's break it down further...

What is self-regulation?

Well, let's break it down. "Self" means you or me. "Regulation" means the process of being in control or to have management. So, add these two terms together and you get "self-regulation". Self-regulation means you or me being in control and having management of ourselves.

Self-regulation is a skill that many children have a difficult time learning and achieving without help. In a given day, a child (and an adult) encounters multiple situations and circumstances that require an awareness of self and others as well as the ability to have or gain self-control.

Generally speaking, a child should achieve an optimal level of self-awareness and mindfulness to identify their inner feelings and emotions and be ready to regulate themselves when the time comes. They need to learn strategies and techniques that work for them to assist them in leaving a less optimal level in order to get back to a "ready-to-go" level of regulation.

Here are more mindfulness activities that kids can use in their Zones of Regulation Toolbox.

Self-regulation CurriculA

There are many different programs that offer self-regulation curriculum. These are regulation programs and interventions that can assist a child (and adult) to learn the skills necessary to achieve emotional regulation fit for every situation, circumstance, and environment.

Amazon affiliate links are included below.

Many programs, curriculum or interventions are created by occupational therapy professionals e.g., Zones of Regulation, The Alert Program, Test Drive, The Sensory Connection, and a new program called, The Regulation Rocket.

One of the common self-regulation programs is the Zones of Regulation.

The Zones of Regulation program is what most of our children use in their schools and homes. This program helps kiddos to identify, address and use strategies to achieve good self-control and emotional regulation in a non-judgmental and safe way. Using the zones helps to take the focus off of the child as being "good" or "bad" and places the focus on obtaining control to get back to the "green zone."

The self-regulation program teachers children and their parents or teachers how to recognize the relationship between emotions, feelings, and their internal "state of being" with the behaviors and actions that we see. This relationship impacts attention, learning, and emotions. When students understand the connection between their arousal states and their ability to self-regulate, they can identify different zones or levels which they are currently in at any given time. They can then use regulation tools or strategies to impact their arousal so they can appropriately and efficiently respond to the demands of a given task.

What is regulation?

Self-regulation is the ability to attain, maintain, and change one's arousal level, emotions, and behaviors. This ability to self-control relies on impulse control, working memory, and generally speaking, the ability to keep oneself "in check". The ability to experience feelings and desires and make decisions based on those concepts requires motivation, willpower, higher level thinking.

It requires the ability to self-monitor our thoughts, actions, feelings, internal body processes (interoception), and then make choices. These decisions can sometimes occur in a moment. For some, this instantaneous decision-making can lead to poor regulation.

Self-regulation can refer to emotional regulation or behavioral regulation. Self-reflection of feelings, emotions, and our response to situations is the ability to use emotional regulation.

Emotional regulation can look like a bad decision based on inner thoughts, or being in a grumpy mood and as a result being mean to a friend. Emotional regulation has to do with inner decisions related to emotions and moods.

Behavioral regulation refers to decisions related to actions and what we say, do, or think in response to inner thoughts and desires.

I think we can all say that one time or another we had something that we were expected to do but we really did NOT want to do. Maybe that was mow the lawn when we really wanted to watch a movie inside. Maybe we wanted to sleep in when we actually had to get up for an early meeting. These would be examples of behavioral regulation. Knowing that those tasks needed to be done and making the decision to do them rather than giving into impulses is a form of self-regulation.

We have a few blog posts here on the website that explain self-regulation in greater detail. This article on using the Mightier program for self-regulation shows how to use the application and game to help a child identify their feelings and utilize coping strategies that impact those various emotional regulation changes. The games adjust to challenge the child as they become more proficient in coping strategies.

In this self-regulation craft and activity, we used a lion and a lamb concept to bring the abstract meaning of regulation to a concrete place of learning and exploration, by helping kids to see that self regulation strategies can make a huge difference in paying attention and learning in the classroom or completing tasks that need to be done at home.

In this article, we covered the connection between executive functioning skills and emotional regulation.

What are the zones of regulation

Well, in brief summation, the Zones of Regulation program is a curriculum or framework created by an occupational therapist, Leah Kuypers, which is designed to help a child navigate their sometimes confusing emotions. The curriculum helps a child to achieve self-regulation and emotional control by gaining skills in self-control and problem-solving based on targeted zones that are identified with colors.

These zones help a child recognize, categorize, and communicate their feelings or emotions based on a specific zone. This makes the program an effective and fluid tool for a child to understand, learn, and achieve without feeling judged or different.

Let's quickly review the zones so you can have a better understanding of the reason behind my fun tool creations. I designed these tools for individual children to help them better understand and navigate their emotions while identifying strategies that help them shift from a less desirable zone to a more calm and focused zone, which is better for participating and learning at school, home, church, and in therapy.

What do the Colors in the Zones of Regulation Program Mean?

The Red Zone is an extremely heightened state of alertness with intense emotions and is typically viewed as the child being "out-of-control."

Red zone behaviors might include:

Anger

Rage

Out of control

Mad

"Hands on" physical reactions

Terror

Extreme feelings

Feel "ready to explode"

Devastation

Red Zone Activities may include:

The Yellow Zone is entering a heightened state of alertness and elevated emotions typically viewed as heading toward the red zone, but the child still has some control.

Examples of Yellow Zone behaviors include:

Yellow Zone Activities may include:

Stretching

Yoga

Enjoy nature

Drink a glass of water

Listen to music

Write in a journal

Activities listed under the other zones

The Green Zone is the optimal level of alertness and is typically viewed as the child being "good to go" and ready for leaning and social interactions.

Examples of the Green Zone behaviors include:

Green Zone Activities may include:

Write in a journal

List out accomplishments

Help someone

Reach out to a friend

Activities listed under the other zones

The Blue Zone is a low level of alertness typically viewed as the child running slow.

Examples of Blue Zone responses include:

Blue Zone Activities may include:

Talk to someone

Rest

Build a puzzle

Read a book

Color or draw

Think about positive mindset strategies

Activities listed under the other zones

Fun Zones of Regulation Activities

What is the best part about the fun tools I created? YOU can create them and use them with most any regulation program based on the programs framework.

One of the key pieces to the Zones of Regulation is the point that there is no one "right" zone to be in. It's OK to be in the red zone or the yellow zone. We all have fluctuations of moods and behaviors. The part that is important for us as advocates for children is to offer strategies to help kids understand and identify their feelings and emotions. It's important for kids to understand how their reactions impact others, particularly when they are not able to manage their emotional or behavioral response.

All of the Zones of Regulation activities that are listed above can be interchanged, and used as able to help move from one zone to another. Each child will be different in the zones strategies that works for them.

The resources in the Sensory Lifestyle Handbook really go into detail on this concept, in using movement and sensory tools as regulation strategies and coping tools to help kids function, within their daily functional tasks. For example, it is possible to incorporate regulating activities within the classroom, home tasks like self-care or chores, and the community. Check out the Sensory Lifestyle Handbook for more information on this concept.

Look at the fun tools I created and take the general structure and design to build essential tools to go with whatever program you may be utilizing in therapy, the classroom, or at home.

1. Zones Pocket Play for Emotions and Coping Strategies

In this zones activity, kids can make the tools they need to work on self-regulation. Have kiddos fold file folders to create a pocket on the bottom. Trim off the edges. Use hot glue to turn the large pocket into four sections (red, yellow, green, and blue). Color and label the sections based on zones. Have kiddos label craft sticks with either emotions or coping strategies and insert into the correct pockets.

This Zones Pocket Play for Emotions and Coping Strategies Folders can be used in the home or classroom.

2. Zone Check-In Tube

Have kiddos paint or wrap colored tape around paper towel tubes according to the zone colors. If painting, wait to dry. Follow up with kiddos writing emotion words or even drawing emotion facial expressions onto the matching tube color. Place a hair band onto the tube to roll up and down as needed to perform check-ins with children throughout the day.

3. Zone Check-In Frame

Hot glue colored craft sticks according to zone colors (red, yellow, green and blue) to create a square frame and then have child write the zone title on one side and zone emotion words on the other side OR have child write zone emotion words on one side and coping strategies on the other side. Place a clothespin onto the frame to clip as needed to perform check-ins with children throughout the day. This tool can also be used to teach and review while learning the program zones as well.

4. Zone Grab Bag Game

Have kiddos create an emotion identification grab bag game. This can be done in differentiated ways:

* Draw emotional expressions as faces on matching color dot stickers and place on bottle caps (for younger children).
* Simply draw emotional facial expressions on bottle caps directly with a black marker (for older children).
* Draw emotional facial expressions on plastic spoons with matching colored markers (for younger children).
* Draw emotional facial expressions on plastic spoons with a black marker (for older children).

Once these are created, toss only the caps or only the spoons into a grab bag or simply toss them all into one bag.

When children grab a cap or spoon from the bag, they decide which colored mat they belong on to identify the correct emotion and zone.

4. Zones of Regulation Craft

Use this Lion and lamb self- regulation craft to identify emotions and talk about "lamb" emotions and responses and "lion" emotions and responses.

5. Make a Coping Skills Toolbox

Identifying coping strategies that work for each individual can make all the difference in having a set of "go to" regulation strategies when the need presents itself. This massive list of coping strategies for kids are perfect for filling a coping skills toolbox. Write them out on slips of paper, add them to a flip book, make them into coping skills Popsicle sticks, or add them to a coping strategies bulletin board. Kids can go through the various calming and alerting activities and use them to self-regulate.

6. Make a Zones of Regulation Chart

Use a file folder or slide a paper into a page protector to create a Zones of Regulation chart using movement activities in the classroom. Kids can mark off their zone and pick from a coping mechanism to help them get to a zone in which they can learn and pay attention.

7. Keep a Self-Reflection Journal

Using a printed journal like our Self-Reflection Journal or the Impulse Control Journal can help kids identify more about themselves, become more self-aware, while reflecting on their day and week. They can write down their actions, emotions, and responses and then look back at what worked and what didn't work. By using a written journal, children can describe good and poor choices that they've made and then write out tools that they can try next time. Journaling is a conversation tool to use when talking about what works and what doesn't work for a child with a variety of needs.

The Impulse Control Journal takes self-reflection a step further by working on the impulses that impact behavioral regulation or emotional regulation and the actions that we see. This tool is effective in helping kids and teens to identify emotions, reactions, responses, and learning strategies to change their regulation through self-awareness. Kids can choose strategies independently and see progress by working through the Impulse Control Journal pages.

8. Identify emotions through Play

The first step of self-regulation is the ability to identify emotions. Social emotional learning begins with naming emotions, matching emotion names to faces and body language. When kids identify emotions, they can begin to develop empathy for others but also become more self-aware of their own emotions, the things that impact those feelings, and how they respond. Some ways to identify emotions through play include:

Using play to identify emotions can be done in so many pretend play activities.

Use pictures or video modeling to help kids identify emotions and label the terms.

Act out emotions with toys and name the emotions that the toys are demonstrating.

9. Explore self regulation skills

When kids explore self regulation skills by experimenting with sensory input, kids can identify the terms that their body feels when they are exposed to that sensory input. If done during a calm time, when the child is at high alert and concentration, they are able to fully experience the input without distraction. Kids can then create a zones toolbox using the self-regulation skills that work for them.

Try these self regulation skills exploration with kids:

Try a variety of sensory foods and ask the child to identify how their mouth feels with each food. Does the food taste salty, sweet, chewy, crunchy, or sour? How does their mouth feel after trying each food? Awake, sleepy, happy, calm, alert? Ask the child to put a name to each food. Mark these down on a chart and use this as a regulation tool.

Try different types of movement using Sensory Diet Cards. Kids can try the sensory activity and identify how their body feels. Mark it down and add those calming or alerting activities to their regulation toolbox.

Self Regulation in the Classroom

Self regulation in the classroom can impact learning, attention, focus, and student interaction.

Now that you know some zones of regulation activities, you can use them in the classroom or learning environment. Whether that be in the traditional school setting, in homeschooling, or in remote learning settings, the Zones of Regulation is effective to foster learning.

Go ahead and make these fun and easy Zones of Regulation tools to help your kiddos learn emotional regulation and self-control to help them succeed in their daily lives so they can feel good and remain cool. Kiddos will enjoy the interactive components and you'll see learning and regulation evolve! They can be used at home or in the school environment.

In the learning environment, kids can identify how characters of a book or reading assignment feel.

Help students identify emotions in magazines or online.

Identify specific tasks that the characters could do to get to a zone that would help them in the situation they are in. This can be a great group activity for students.

Come up with group or small group coping tools that students can use as a brain break or movement break.

Have students make a DIY quiet fidget tool that they can keep in their pencil pouch or desk.

Explore these sensory strategies for school and come up with regulation activities that work for the learning situation.

Add movement to learning. These monthly movement activities can work for many themes. These heavy work activity cards can be used in the classroom or with various learning themes.

There are so many options for zones of regulation activities for kids. What would you add to this list?

This post was written in part, by The OT Toolbox contributor, Regina Allen. Read about Regina in her Contributor Author Spotlight.

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Zones of Regulation Activities - 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. All of us can use zones of regulation activities to monitor, maintain, and change our level of regulation.

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Feelings Check Soc Story for Zones 2022.ppt

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Zones Of Regulation Videos to understand each Zone Color

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Are you looking for printable Zones of Regulation tools?

Perhaps your child loses it at the slightest frustration. Maybe emotional and sensory meltdowns are a part of your daily routine.

Friend, is that you banging your head against a wall? Girl, I hear you loud and clear. It's not easy navigating intense emotions... our own and our kids.

I've learned the hard way that if I want to do more than just survive, I've got to equip my kids (and myself).

If this resonates, you're in the right place. Today, we're talking about using printable Zones of Regulation visual tools to help kids of all ages develop emotional regulation strategies.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a nominal fee from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. See my disclosure policy for more info.

Meltdowns Impact the Entire Family

Daily, moms and kids alike are being slammed with layer upon layer of stress.

I'm sure you'll agree that we've all experienced some form of anxiety. Often, we adults don't respond to our anxiety in the healthiest, most appropriate ways.

We snap at our hubbies,

Yell too loudly at our kids,

or shovel chocolate chips down our throats

However we choose to release tension, if we don't identify the cause, we may end up with broken relationships with those we love.

Or, if you are in the chocolate chip shoveling crew ( please tell me I'm not alone), your waistline and health take a hit.

Behavior Is Communication

Behavior is information and a form of communication.

When kids "act out," they're communicating something that they can't easily verbalize.

Think about it this way.

We, moms, know the frustration when we can't find a word.

My blood starts to boil.

The Need to Communicate

Jenny, Mike, Sarah, Sam...

Think about how often we have to run through all of our kids' names (let alone our hubby's and pets' names) before we say the right one.

That alone can be so frustrating.

Like us, kids become frustrated when they can't communicate what they're experiencing. Truthfully, they often legitimately don't have the language to pinpoint it.

Without the ability to let it out verbally, kids act out behaviorally.
That's when emotional and self-regulation tools can support positive mental health for the entire family.

What is Self-Regulation?

These days, we constantly hear about self-regulation, but what exactly is it, and should it be the goal?

Self-regulation is often described as:

How people monitor their internal emotional states and adjust them to respond in a way that's appropriate for the social context

And while on the surface, this may appear to be a noble skill for children and adults, there are a couple of problems with it.

1. Appropriate responses for the social context are most often based on neurotypical social behaviors,

2. Self-regulation cannot happen without co-regulation first

Co-Regulation and Safety First

Children cannot learn healthy self-regulation without first experiencing co-regulation with a safe consistent caregiver.

Additionally, children must be afforded the opportunity to learn about their emotions and their internal states of arousal (alertness).

Further, they need support in coming up with different strategies that work for them.

And most importantly, they need lots of practice to use their growing emotional awareness and coping skills.

Let me repeat this: Kids need SAFE opportunities to practice using newly acquired self-regulation skills.
Listen to episode 23 of the podcast, How to Parent an Angry Kid, for more support.

What Are the Zones of Regulation?

Resources based on the Zones of Regulation are a great teaching tool for kids and adults.

The Zones of Regulation curriculum was designed by an occupational therapist, Leah Kuypers, MA. Ed, OTR-L.

According to the Zones of Regulation website, the Zones curriculum uses a cognitive behavior therapy approach to help people,

regulate... feelings, energy, and sensory needs... to meet the demands of the situation around us and be successful socially.

The entire program is available on the Social Thinking Company website. However, the chart alone is a great resource.

Specifically, it's a visual tool that helps children identify and communicate their different emotions. Within a Zones of Regulation chart emotions and physical sensations are categorized within different zones.

Each zone is a different color and represents different levels of alertness often associated with different emotional states.

The Zones of Regulation at MY Home

I was originally introduced to the Zones curriculum by my son's developmental pediatrician.

In those earlier visits with her, my son was unregulated, agitated, and hypervigilant.

He was all over the place and he NEVER SLEPT.

To the untrained eye, he appeared to have classic ADHD. (Note: Anxiety in children can look IDENTICAL to ADHD.)

Because of this (and the horrified, exhausted desperate look in my eyes), she handed us a lifeline.

They were a lifesaver for my family.

Learn More in Behind the Behavior Book!

What I Learned from The Zones of Regulation

I truly believe that what I learned from this emotional regulation tool was my greatest gift.

When we adults see children struggling with difficult behavior, we must shift our perspective on how we respond.

If we only see outward behavior at face value, we don't solve the actual problem.

Kids (and adults) need to learn their own triggers without shame. Then, they need to be equipped to respond in healthy ways.

When a child behaves in a way that appears outwardly disrespectful, adults have to pause and take a deep breath.

Then we must step back and think about what may be happening behind the behavior.
When we identify root issues, without getting "offended by" kid behavior, we're able to propel the needle forward.

What Does Each Zone Mean?

In the official Zones of Regulation, there are four zones.

1. Green Zone

2. Yellow Zone

3. Red Zone

4. Blue Zone

To get us on the same page, let's dive into the different zones and what each one means. Remember that each zone is meant to help children identify various emotions as well as their level of alertness.

In the end, these zones foster self-regulation and social-emotional learning.

Green Zone
The green zone represents emotional states such as:

focused

ready-to-learn

happy

content

confident

peaceful

a sense of being in control

Further, when in the green zone, the level of alertness feels safe.

Yellow Zone
Within the yellow zone, you'll notice different emotions such as:

worried

hungry

grumpy

scared

silly

confused

embarrassed

impatient

These are often accompanied by a higher state of alertness.

Red Zone

The red zone is represented by the highest level of arousal or alertness. Specifically, the red zone includes strong feelings such as:

excited

hyper

angry

scared

panicked

frustrated

starving

raging

It's important to note that there is no one ideal zone. Children should never associate strong emotions as bad just because they're intense.

The goal is to help children use these types of visual tools to grow their problem-solving skills and level of emotional control. In the end, this will happen over decades and not in one fell swoop.

Blue Zone

The final zone is the blue zone which represents a lower level of arousal (alertness). Some of the blue feelings are:

sleepy

sad

bored

sick

slow-going

shy

needs a break

Again, it's very important to reiterate that there's no best state of alertness.

In fact, the goal of such self-regulation tools is to grow students' understanding of their internal states of being (interoception).

Benefits of the Zones of Regulation

Tools based on the Zones of Regulation can be very helpful for a number of different reasons.

First, when children can properly identify their own feelings, they're better able to choose different ways of responding to their own needs.

Children learn a number of social-emotional life skills that will serve them in the long term.

Again, it's essential that children and adults understand that no zone is the appropriate zone. No emotional state or alertness level is right or wrong.

The goal should NOT be to be in the "green zone" at all times.

By practicing mindfulness, and an awareness of what's going on internally, children and adults are better able to offer themselves compassion at any given moment.

When we love ourselves, we're better able to love others. (Matthew 22:39)

Negatives of Zones of Regulation
One criticism of many social-emotional tools is their focus on neurotypical norms as the best.
This has led to the tragic marginalization of neurodivergent children and adults. Autistic children as well as those with ADHD, sensory integration challenges, and many others have unique ways of experiencing the world.

These children and adults are different, not less. This means when using social-emotional learning tools in a classroom, we must seek the representation of all learners in the whole class.

Unfortunately, Zones of Regulation and Social Thinking Company uses terms that are often damaging to neurodivergent children. For example, when discussing social interactions with peers.

Unexpected behaviors vs expected behaviors

Neurodivergent social skills and responses are labeled "unexpected"

With the message that autistic children need to act in "expected" non-autistic ways

A great way to support all children is to take a more inclusive approach that fosters understanding and compassion.

Inclusive Social-Emotional Learning
This means teaching the majority group (neurotypicals) about the value of minority neurotypes.
Some simple ways to do this in a school, children's ministry, or family include:

1. Discussing the unique sensory experiences of each of your children or students

2. Creating a culture of emotional intelligence and acceptance by reading:

3. Removing behavioral charts in classrooms

4. Parents and teachers model their personal deep breaths when overwhelmed, thus normalizing the use of emotional self-regulation

5. Teachers and parents value behavior choices that indicate compassion rather than competition

6. Celebrating Autism Acceptance Month and not Autism Awareness

7. Removing the stigmatizing Puzzle Piece from all schools and using the Infinity Symbol

8. Listening to Autism-led Advocacy Groups instead of groups such as Autism Speaks

In the end, if we've learned anything, it's to listen to the marginalized. Their voices matter.

Different Tools and Printable Activities

Different children have different needs. Fortunately, there are many additional resources to help you support your child or students develop their social-emotional skills.

I've created an emotional regulation printable series that can be used in a number of different ways and in different environments.

At the bottom of the post, you'll be able to download the free printables.

Included are a number of supplementary zones emotions visuals:

Two mini zones of regulation posters

One filled in and one to fill in as practice

Each emotional color zone includes a face with an emotional expression

Right Now I Feel... printable
includes an area to draw a facial expression for the feeling

Today, I Felt... printable

includes morning, noon, and evening sections to note current emotions

as well as blank templates to draw the corresponding facial expressions

This Week I've Felt... printable

Learning Healthy Self-Regulation Starts at Home

Think about this.

How many adults do you know that don't know how to handle their emotions?

I'd guess that we all know someone in this category.

We all know we've had our adult temper tantrums, right?

We're just people.

Here's the thing. We fill our kids' heads with a ton of information about math and reading.

However, we fail to help kids learn how to process life's tough situations.

I think you'd agree that we must prioritize their long-term mental health if we want them to thrive into adulthood.

Recap: Zones of Regulation Printables

Fortunately, we live in a day and age that is learning to prioritize the emotional well-being of our children.

By providing children and families with emotional regulation support, we're able to change the narrative for so many. Again, we have different choices in the types of tools we use.

Zones of regulation tools and other mental health tools and education are available for everyone. They can be used at home, in a school environment, at church, and in mental health settings.

Don't forget to sign up for your free downloadable visuals and enjoy them with:

your own children and family,

younger students in preschool,

small groups in the church,

special education environments,

tweens and teens

Remember the goal is to support the development of healthy emotional regulation skills for all. Be flexible and work with your child or students to grow together.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Printable Zones of Regulation (ish) Worksheets for All Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Are you looking for printable Zones of Regulation tools? Perhaps your child loses it at the slightest frustration. Maybe emotional and sensory meltdowns are a part of your daily routine. Friend, is that you banging your head against a wall? Girl, I hear you loud and clear. It's not easy navigating intense emotions...

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I’m fortunate to have a nice big classroom with space for a Sensory Break Center in my current school. Previously, I was crammed in a tiny p...

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

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The Zones of Regulation: A Concept to Foster Self-Regulation & Emotional Control

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The Zones of Regulation book. Below you will find tools, visuals and Zones learning activities that have been created by other professionals in order to adapt and supplement The Zones framework. If interested in sharing a document you created, please click the button to submit your idea of how you are using The Zones!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Zones of Regulation book. Below you will find tools, visuals and Zones learning activities that have been created by other professionals in order to adapt and supplement The Zones framework. If interested in sharing a document you created, please click the button to submit your idea of how you are using The Zones!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Are you looking for printable Zones of Regulation tools?

Perhaps your child loses it at the slightest frustration. Maybe emotional and sensory meltdowns are a part of your daily routine.

Friend, is that you banging your head against a wall? Girl, I hear you loud and clear. It's not easy navigating intense emotions... our own and our kids.

I've learned the hard way that if I want to do more than just survive, I've got to equip my kids (and myself).

If this resonates, you're in the right place. Today, we're talking about using printable Zones of Regulation visual tools to help kids of all ages develop emotional regulation strategies.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a nominal fee from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. See my disclosure policy for more info.

Meltdowns Impact the Entire Family

Daily, moms and kids alike are being slammed with layer upon layer of stress.

I'm sure you'll agree that we've all experienced some form of anxiety. Often, we adults don't respond to our anxiety in the healthiest, most appropriate ways.

We snap at our hubbies,

Yell too loudly at our kids,

or shovel chocolate chips down our throats

However we choose to release tension, if we don't identify the cause, we may end up with broken relationships with those we love.

Or, if you are in the chocolate chip shoveling crew ( please tell me I'm not alone), your waistline and health take a hit.

Behavior Is Communication

Behavior is information and a form of communication.

When kids "act out," they're communicating something that they can't easily verbalize.

Think about it this way.

We, moms, know the frustration when we can't find a word.

My blood starts to boil.

The Need to Communicate

Jenny, Mike, Sarah, Sam...

Think about how often we have to run through all of our kids' names (let alone our hubby's and pets' names) before we say the right one.

That alone can be so frustrating.

Like us, kids become frustrated when they can't communicate what they're experiencing. Truthfully, they often legitimately don't have the language to pinpoint it.

Without the ability to let it out verbally, kids act out behaviorally.
That's when emotional and self-regulation tools can support positive mental health for the entire family.

What is Self-Regulation?

These days, we constantly hear about self-regulation, but what exactly is it, and should it be the goal?

Self-regulation is often described as:

How people monitor their internal emotional states and adjust them to respond in a way that's appropriate for the social context

And while on the surface, this may appear to be a noble skill for children and adults, there are a couple of problems with it.

1. Appropriate responses for the social context are most often based on neurotypical social behaviors,

2. Self-regulation cannot happen without co-regulation first

Co-Regulation and Safety First

Children cannot learn healthy self-regulation without first experiencing co-regulation with a safe consistent caregiver.

Additionally, children must be afforded the opportunity to learn about their emotions and their internal states of arousal (alertness).

Further, they need support in coming up with different strategies that work for them.

And most importantly, they need lots of practice to use their growing emotional awareness and coping skills.

Let me repeat this: Kids need SAFE opportunities to practice using newly acquired self-regulation skills.
Listen to episode 23 of the podcast, How to Parent an Angry Kid, for more support.

What Are the Zones of Regulation?

Resources based on the Zones of Regulation are a great teaching tool for kids and adults.

The Zones of Regulation curriculum was designed by an occupational therapist, Leah Kuypers, MA. Ed, OTR-L.

According to the Zones of Regulation website, the Zones curriculum uses a cognitive behavior therapy approach to help people,

regulate... feelings, energy, and sensory needs... to meet the demands of the situation around us and be successful socially.

The entire program is available on the Social Thinking Company website. However, the chart alone is a great resource.

Specifically, it's a visual tool that helps children identify and communicate their different emotions. Within a Zones of Regulation chart emotions and physical sensations are categorized within different zones.

Each zone is a different color and represents different levels of alertness often associated with different emotional states.

The Zones of Regulation at MY Home

I was originally introduced to the Zones curriculum by my son's developmental pediatrician.

In those earlier visits with her, my son was unregulated, agitated, and hypervigilant.

He was all over the place and he NEVER SLEPT.

To the untrained eye, he appeared to have classic ADHD. (Note: Anxiety in children can look IDENTICAL to ADHD.)

Because of this (and the horrified, exhausted desperate look in my eyes), she handed us a lifeline.

They were a lifesaver for my family.

Learn More in Behind the Behavior Book!

What I Learned from The Zones of Regulation

I truly believe that what I learned from this emotional regulation tool was my greatest gift.

When we adults see children struggling with difficult behavior, we must shift our perspective on how we respond.

If we only see outward behavior at face value, we don't solve the actual problem.

Kids (and adults) need to learn their own triggers without shame. Then, they need to be equipped to respond in healthy ways.

When a child behaves in a way that appears outwardly disrespectful, adults have to pause and take a deep breath.

Then we must step back and think about what may be happening behind the behavior.
When we identify root issues, without getting "offended by" kid behavior, we're able to propel the needle forward.

What Does Each Zone Mean?

In the official Zones of Regulation, there are four zones.

1. Green Zone

2. Yellow Zone

3. Red Zone

4. Blue Zone

To get us on the same page, let's dive into the different zones and what each one means. Remember that each zone is meant to help children identify various emotions as well as their level of alertness.

In the end, these zones foster self-regulation and social-emotional learning.

Green Zone
The green zone represents emotional states such as:

focused

ready-to-learn

happy

content

confident

peaceful

a sense of being in control

Further, when in the green zone, the level of alertness feels safe.

Yellow Zone
Within the yellow zone, you'll notice different emotions such as:

worried

hungry

grumpy

scared

silly

confused

embarrassed

impatient

These are often accompanied by a higher state of alertness.

Red Zone

The red zone is represented by the highest level of arousal or alertness. Specifically, the red zone includes strong feelings such as:

excited

hyper

angry

scared

panicked

frustrated

starving

raging

It's important to note that there is no one ideal zone. Children should never associate strong emotions as bad just because they're intense.

The goal is to help children use these types of visual tools to grow their problem-solving skills and level of emotional control. In the end, this will happen over decades and not in one fell swoop.

Blue Zone

The final zone is the blue zone which represents a lower level of arousal (alertness). Some of the blue feelings are:

sleepy

sad

bored

sick

slow-going

shy

needs a break

Again, it's very important to reiterate that there's no best state of alertness.

In fact, the goal of such self-regulation tools is to grow students' understanding of their internal states of being (interoception).

Benefits of the Zones of Regulation

Tools based on the Zones of Regulation can be very helpful for a number of different reasons.

First, when children can properly identify their own feelings, they're better able to choose different ways of responding to their own needs.

Children learn a number of social-emotional life skills that will serve them in the long term.

Again, it's essential that children and adults understand that no zone is the appropriate zone. No emotional state or alertness level is right or wrong.

The goal should NOT be to be in the "green zone" at all times.

By practicing mindfulness, and an awareness of what's going on internally, children and adults are better able to offer themselves compassion at any given moment.

When we love ourselves, we're better able to love others. (Matthew 22:39)

Negatives of Zones of Regulation
One criticism of many social-emotional tools is their focus on neurotypical norms as the best.
This has led to the tragic marginalization of neurodivergent children and adults. Autistic children as well as those with ADHD, sensory integration challenges, and many others have unique ways of experiencing the world.

These children and adults are different, not less. This means when using social-emotional learning tools in a classroom, we must seek the representation of all learners in the whole class.

Unfortunately, Zones of Regulation and Social Thinking Company uses terms that are often damaging to neurodivergent children. For example, when discussing social interactions with peers.

Unexpected behaviors vs expected behaviors

Neurodivergent social skills and responses are labeled "unexpected"

With the message that autistic children need to act in "expected" non-autistic ways

A great way to support all children is to take a more inclusive approach that fosters understanding and compassion.

Inclusive Social-Emotional Learning
This means teaching the majority group (neurotypicals) about the value of minority neurotypes.
Some simple ways to do this in a school, children's ministry, or family include:

1. Discussing the unique sensory experiences of each of your children or students

2. Creating a culture of emotional intelligence and acceptance by reading:

3. Removing behavioral charts in classrooms

4. Parents and teachers model their personal deep breaths when overwhelmed, thus normalizing the use of emotional self-regulation

5. Teachers and parents value behavior choices that indicate compassion rather than competition

6. Celebrating Autism Acceptance Month and not Autism Awareness

7. Removing the stigmatizing Puzzle Piece from all schools and using the Infinity Symbol

8. Listening to Autism-led Advocacy Groups instead of groups such as Autism Speaks

In the end, if we've learned anything, it's to listen to the marginalized. Their voices matter.

Different Tools and Printable Activities

Different children have different needs. Fortunately, there are many additional resources to help you support your child or students develop their social-emotional skills.

I've created an emotional regulation printable series that can be used in a number of different ways and in different environments.

At the bottom of the post, you'll be able to download the free printables.

Included are a number of supplementary zones emotions visuals:

Two mini zones of regulation posters

One filled in and one to fill in as practice

Each emotional color zone includes a face with an emotional expression

Right Now I Feel... printable
includes an area to draw a facial expression for the feeling

Today, I Felt... printable

includes morning, noon, and evening sections to note current emotions

as well as blank templates to draw the corresponding facial expressions

This Week I've Felt... printable

Learning Healthy Self-Regulation Starts at Home

Think about this.

How many adults do you know that don't know how to handle their emotions?

I'd guess that we all know someone in this category.

We all know we've had our adult temper tantrums, right?

We're just people.

Here's the thing. We fill our kids' heads with a ton of information about math and reading.

However, we fail to help kids learn how to process life's tough situations.

I think you'd agree that we must prioritize their long-term mental health if we want them to thrive into adulthood.

Recap: Zones of Regulation Printables

Fortunately, we live in a day and age that is learning to prioritize the emotional well-being of our children.

By providing children and families with emotional regulation support, we're able to change the narrative for so many. Again, we have different choices in the types of tools we use.

Zones of regulation tools and other mental health tools and education are available for everyone. They can be used at home, in a school environment, at church, and in mental health settings.

Don't forget to sign up for your free downloadable visuals and enjoy them with:

your own children and family,

younger students in preschool,

small groups in the church,

special education environments,

tweens and teens

Remember the goal is to support the development of healthy emotional regulation skills for all. Be flexible and work with your child or students to grow together.

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Printable Zones of Regulation (ish) Worksheets for All Kids

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Are you looking for printable Zones of Regulation tools? Perhaps your child loses it at the slightest frustration. Maybe emotional and sensory meltdowns are a part of your daily routine. Friend, is that you banging your head against a wall? Girl, I hear you loud and clear. It's not easy navigating intense emotions...

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Guest blog written by Occupational Therapy Assistant Student, Juliana Lehman OTAS

Advisement, Editing and Supervision by Deborah Bebeau EdD, OTR
Quick recap of Self-Regulation, Part 1:
Self-regulation reflects self-control but additionally involves emotional and social components.

Be on the lookout for triggering situations.

Assist children to identify emotions especially when reaching frustration overload.

Come up with a secret code to communicate feelings or behaviors related to increased anxiety or frustration.

Provide cues when space is needed.

To read or review Part 1, please click HERE Self-Regulation, Part 2 - Zones of Regulation Activities:
The Zones of Regulation, created by Leah Kuypers, OTR, assigns specific emotions or physical states of alertness to four different color zones. This system, when practiced, helps children, parents, teachers, and caregivers know when to calm, comfort, motivate, energize, or defuse emotions to help facilitate participation in the task at hand.
Discover what Zone an individual occupies.
To use the Zones effectively, first help your child identify what feelings, energy levels, and behaviors are associated with each color. The Blue Zone encompasses a low energy state and feeling sad, tired, ill, or bored. The Green Zone connects to feeling focused, calm, happy or "A OK" and ready to learn. The Yellow Zone relates to feeling excited, anxious, frustrated, or like you are starting to lose control, and inability to sit still. The Red Zone relates to feeling anger, elation, loss of control, scared, and associated behaviors may be high volume in voice and action, like shouting or hitting.

There are many fun crafting activities that you and your child can do together to learn how to identify what feelings or behaviors are associated with a particular color zone.

Create A Zone of Regulation Picture Frame: Put the Zone in perspective-it is all about the frame and discovering what zone your child is in now. Here is how to make a zones of regulation picture frame!

Supplies needed: 4 Popsicle sticks (per frame), black Sharpie, markers or paint in the four zone colors, blue, green, yellow and red, a clothespin or a binder clip, and glue.

Step 1: Paint or color each Popsicle stick and allow to dry

Step 2: Lay out your square, blue to red to yellow to green, two will sit behind and two in front, glue together and allow to dry, consider if you want to label colors with a word to reference the corresponding emotion.

Step 3: Once dry, use the clothespin or binder clip and allow your child to identify in the moment what zone they are in and how they are feeling...
Next, let's look at activities that can help move us from one zone to another when needed. After validating what is being felt first, consider an activity that motivates your child to move from one zone to the next.
No right or wrong zones exist. The key is to match the zone with the given environment or activity. For example, the feelings and visible behaviors associated with the green zone are often preferred during class time in school. The yellow zone may match better with recess time and the blue zone with bedtime. When you and/ or your child can recognize feelings and behaviors related to a particular zone that may not match a specific environment or activity, then you can implement strategies to achieve better regulation in the moment.

To transition from the Blue to Green Zone consider doing a fun energizing exercise or game like jumping jacks or blowing bubbles.

To move from the Yellow to Green Zone, try fidget tools/toys like spinners or squishy balls, take a few calming deep breaths, or talk to an adult.

To move from the Red to Green Zone, take a pause from the current activity by getting a drink of water, taking a few calming deep breaths, or changing location from inside to outside or vice versa. With extreme emotions, allow some time for calming down and be a model of calm.

Create a Zones of Regulation Action Board: Use pictures to identify activities that may help your child navigate from the Blue, Yellow, and Red Zones back to the Green Zone.

Supplies needed: One large Poster-board, four pieces of construction paper, one in each if the colors, blue, green yellow and red, White printer paper to draw or create pictures of action solutions, black Sharpie, Clear Packing tape or cold seal laminating pouches, self adhesive Velcro strips (available on Amazon), Black sharpie, scissors

Step 1: Print out traffic signs, emotion, and activity rectangles from this blog or the internet (above from Pinterest). Feel free to draw or make your own pictures of things that work for your child

Step 2: As on the sample picture, place the four colors for the zone rectangles across the top of the Poster-board, labeling with sharpie or traffic signs in corners of colored rectangles, tape to secure and laminate with clear packing tape.

Step 3: Use the clear packing tape to laminate the other rectangles of emotions and activity rectangles, front and back, take your time, placement can be tricky.
Craft and photo credit: Alyssa Mincberg, OTAS
Step 4: Cut Velcro strips and adhere one base side to color block zone sections in a couple of rows, leaving space to move fit multiple emotion and activity solutions rectangle in color blocks.

Step 5: Adhere the gripper side to the back of the rectangles just laminated with the base side facing out.

Step 6: Attach the emotions under the color blocks, by the words, I feel______", You can put your child's name in here if you'd like or be creative.

Step 7: Attach the activity solutions rectangles, by the words, "I will try______" Again be creative here. Also place one additional laminated or package sealing tape covered construction paper square as a solution box, see above.

Step 8: Practice identifying emotions within the color zones at least once a day as emotions and energy levels fluctuate. Let your child select a solution to try to transition to a new zone as needed.

How to know which solution pictures to choose? This depends completely upon your individual child. To some a walk will invigorate, to others it will calm. What has worked in the past to soothe or motivate? Start there and use unique solution pictures in the craft specific to your child.

A source for Zone friendly printout materials: https://zonesofregulation.com/free-downloadable-handouts1.html

Disclaimer: By referencing products or services this author does not directly or indirectly endorse any

specific product or services. This blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to give

medical advice. Please consult with your child's physician or licensed practitioner and consider the

individual needs of your child.

Guest blog written by Occupational Therapy Assistant Student, Juliana Lehman

Advisement, Editing and Supervision by Deborah Bebeau EdD, OTR
Resources Blog 5 part 2
1. All the Zones are OK! Tips for Managing the Zones You're In Leah Kuypers, MA Ed., OTR/L, https://www.socialthinking.com/Resources

2. theOTtoolbox.com

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Sensory Blog: Self Regulation- What You Need To Know - Part 2 - Madison

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Guest blog written by Occupational Therapy Assistant Student, Juliana Lehman OTAS Advisement, Editing and Supervision by Deborah Bebeau EdD, OTR Quick recap of Self-Regulation, Part 1: Self-regulation reflects self-control but additionally involves emotional and social components. Be on the lookout for triggering situations. Assist children to identify emotions especially when reaching frustration overload.

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Zones Of Regulation Strategies Printable - Best 25+ Self regulation ideas on Pinterest | Self regulation kindergarten, Emotional regulation .... Free printable of zones of regulation charts, with some favorite emojis and characters! The zones of regulation is a framework of a cognitive/emotional curriculum geared toward helping students gain skills in consciously regulating their actions and feelings; Great for children with asd, adhd, sensory processing disorder, odd, and all children who are learning to manage their big feelings. Regulation (eu) 2019/2033 of the european parliament and of the council of 27 november 2019. 10000+ results for 'zones of regulation coping tools strategies'.

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Emotional Regulation Tools-File Folder | Emotional regulation, Zones of regulation, Social ... from i.pinimg.com

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Yellow zone what is an inner coach??

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Zones of Regulation Desk Chart by Elizabeth Linfield | TpT from ecdn.teacherspayteachers.com

A free printable for making these coping strategies dice and information about what's in my zones of regulation toolbox. Free printable of zones of regulation charts, with some favorite emojis and characters! Rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy, the zones approach uses four colors to help students identify how they are functioning in the moment given their emotions. To be flexible and responsive. These emotional regulation free printables are not meant to be a replacement for the original zones of regulation tm. Yellow zone what is an inner coach?? Learn about zones of regulation with free interactive flashcards. It also gives students ideas for how to feel better in a healthy way.

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Zones Of Regulation Strategies Printable - Best 25+ Self regulation ideas on Pinterest | Self regulation kindergarten, Emotional regulation ...

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Zones Of Regulation Strategies Printable - Best 25+ Self regulation ideas on Pinterest | Self regulation kindergarten, Emotional regulation .... Free printable of zones of regulation charts, with some favorite emojis and characters!

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Zones of Regulation- Blue and Red Zone Tools

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Zones of Regulation Lesson 1 With Mrs. Fysh

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My focus this year has been implementing a school-wide Zones of Regulation curriculum for grades K-8. Many of the children I work with have difficulty with emotional regulation, and after successfully working the program at my private practice, I made the recommendation to administration to launch it at my school.

The greatest challenge has been to modify the materials and lessons for the various grades. Currently, the program is being delivered on a weekly basis with counselors and speech therapists in the classrooms. This week I created a modified version of UNO to reinforce the concepts we have learned so far.

We'll be using this game in grades 3 and up. What I especially like about the game is the broad application: I'll be using it in my private practice as well as my school.

Take a look at it in my TPT store & let me know what you think!

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My focus this year has been implementing a school-wide Zones of Regulation curriculum for grades K-8. Many of the children I work with have difficulty with emotional regulation, and after successfully working the program at my private practice, I made the recommendation to administration to launch it at my school.

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The Incredibles dinner scene (1080p Full HD)

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Inside Out   Meet the Zones: Green, Blue, Red,  and Yellow

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The Zones of Regulation, a curriculum developed by Leah Kuypers, is designed to help students recognize which emotional zone they are in and to self-regulate within that zone. It is derived from the cognitive behavior therapy approach. The zones can be broken into four categories - the red, blue, green, and yellow zones. Each one is a different level of alertness and each one is present in all of us at varying times.

Research has shown that the green zone is the optimal zone for learning. However, our job as teachers is not to get students into the green zone. It is to help them recognize that all zones are good and they need to recognize the environment they are in. The relative dysregulation of the yellow zone may be ok on the recess field but must be tempered in the classroom.

We then need to teach students tools for emotional self-regulation, regardless of the zone they may be in. The Zones of Regulation curriculum helps students with their emotional control, sensory regulation, and behavior choices.

The tools in this article will get you started with introducing the zones, teaching regulation strategies, implementing emotional check-ins, and using the strategies in practical ways.

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Get in the Zone with these 20 Zones of Regulation Activities for Kids - Teaching Expertise

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The Zones of Regulation, a curriculum developed by Leah Kuypers, is designed to help students recognize which emotional zone they are in and to self-regulate within that zone. It is derived from the cognitive behavior therapy approach. The zones can be broken into four categories - the red, blue, green, and yellow zones.

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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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If you're looking for social filter activities for kids, as well as practical tips to help you learn how to teach social skills to children of all ages and abilities, this post is for you! We're sharing 7 strategies to help you teach your child how to filter their thoughts and think twice before verbalizing them. We're also sharing 8 fun and easy social filter activities to reinforce these strategies, which can be used in the classroom, in group therapy sessions, and even at home. These activities double as great team-building exercises, and will do wonders for helping children develop their conversations skills while developing and maintaining friendships.

What Does Social Filter Mean?

The term 'social filter' refers to our ability to assess which of our thoughts we should verbalize and which ones we should keep to ourselves based on the situation we're in and the audience we're speaking with. It involves thinking before speaking to ensure we aren't saying something inappropriate or hurtful to ourselves and others.

7 Tips to Teach Kids How to Use Their Social Filter

Small children are notorious for repeating inappropriate things at the most inopportune times, which can be both funny and mortifying for parents and caregivers. Filtering our thoughts and exercising empathy before we speak is a learned skill, and can be particularly tricky for individuals with developmental delays like autism and ADHD. This can lead to problems in school and difficulty making and maintaining friendships, so it's important to teach and reinforce these skills from a young age. If you're looking for tips to teach kids how to use their social filter, here are 7 ideas to get you started.

1. Be a good role model
One of the foundations of teaching appropriate social skills to children is to be a good role model - to explain what you're doing and why. This can be uncomfortable for parents and caregivers who are introverted, but when you model consistent and positive social behavior for your child, it will be easier for him or her to mimic these behaviors over time.

If you're trying to teach your child how to use their social filter, take the time to explain to your little one how you do this yourself. When someone asks you a question or you're trying to start a conversation in a group setting, verbalize the various thoughts that are running through your mind, and how you decide what you should and shouldn't say. You won't always be able to do this in the moment, especially when you're filtering out thoughts that may be hurtful or inappropriate, but can discuss in detail after the fact.

2. Remind your child to think before speaking
Get your child into the habit of pausing and asking him- or herself if the things he or she is about to say will 1) be hurtful to themselves, and 2) be hurtful to someone else.

3. Role play
Another great way to teach social skills to kids is to role play. You can come up with fictional situations to act out together, or you can re-enact scenes that already happened and discuss more appropriate ways to handle such interactions in the future. Remember to practice often and to be consistent to ensure the principals and ideas you are trying to teach your child resonate with him or her.

4. Use social stories and scripts
Social stories are written descriptions of everyday situations and events told from a child's perspective. They are aimed at providing children with something to rehearse so they feel prepared once the situation described actually takes place, and can be an excellent strategy for teaching social skills to kids with developmental challenges like autism.

Social scripts are a little more generic in that they provide kids with a pre-defined list of things to say in certain situations, and while they are certainly useful in teaching kids how to use their social filter, they should be used with caution as specific responses won't work in every situation and can make kids sound too scripted.

5. Develop a list of social rules
If your child is really struggling to filter his or her thoughts, consider developing a list of 'Social Rules' for your child to abide by based on the things he or she struggles with (remembering to stay on topic, refraining from saying things that may be hurtful, etc.). Write them down on a white board and keep them somewhere visible so your child can refer to the list often. If your child struggles to maintain the rules you've set forth, consider turning this into a reward system whereby your child earns a small treat for following a certain number of the rules you've set forth for him or her each day.

6. Use positive over negative reinforcement
Reinforcement is a fabulous technique parents and teachers can use to encourage appropriate behaviors in children, and research tends to suggest that positive reinforcement - the act of rewarding a child when he or she completes a desired behavior as a means of increasing the likelihood he or she will repeat the behavior again - is the most effective. Sticker charts are a simple, yet effective form of positive reinforcement that can be extremely motivating for kids, and this post contains a list of all kinds of fabulous reward charts you can use to positively reinforce your child's behaviors.

7. Read books
There are heaps of great books filled with social learning tips and social skills activities for kids, and Julia Cook has a great one geared specifically towards teaching kids how to use their social filter. The book is calledI Can't Believe You Said That!, and it comes with a great activity guide for parents and teachers. Being Frank by Donna W. Earnhardt is another good one - I highly recommend it!

8 Social Filter Activities for Kids

Teachers Pay Teachers is an excellent resource for lesson plans and activities geared towards teaching specific skills to children, and if you're looking for social filter activities for kids, they have TONS of great ideas you can purchase for a small fee. Here are 8 of my favorites!

"I Can't Believe You Said That" Social Filter Activity for Kids
If you're looking for social filter activities for kids you can use with the booksI Can't Believe You Said That! by Julia Cook and Being Frank by Donna W. Earnhardt, this is a great one to consider. It's a set of sorting activity cards with 16 different situations and thoughts, and kids are challenged to sort them into 3 groups: 'keep it in your head', 'say it out loud', and, 'filter it'.

I hope you found these tips and social filter activities for kids helpful! Remember to be a good role model, to practice through role playing, to use positive over negative reinforcement, and to keep things fun!
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Think It Or Say It Out Loud: 8 Social Filter Activities for Kids

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If you're looking for social filter activities for kids, as well as practical tips to help you learn how to teach social skills to children of all ages and abilities, this post is for you! We're sharing 7 strategies to help you teach your child how to filter their thoughts and think twice before verbalizing them.