How Can You Use Them at Home?
Julia Testori, OTD, OTR/L
If you’re familiar with The Wolf School, you’ve probably heard mention of the Zones of Regulation.

“What can we do to help get us in the green zone?”
“It looks like you might be feeling like you’re in the red zone.”
At Wolf, this type of language is common but what are the Zones of Regulation and how are they beneficial for Complex Learners? The Zones of Regulation is a framework designed to help children understand and manage their emotions, behaviors, and sensory needs. It categorizes emotions and states of alertness into four color-coded zones, making it easier for children to identify how they’re feeling in the moment and choose an appropriate strategy to regulate themselves.
Often Complex Learners can struggle with regulating themselves and being able to fully articulate how they’re feeling. The Zones of Regulation makes it easy by breaking it down into four zones.
The Four Zones and Examples:
Blue Zone – Low energy, sluggish, sad, tired, sick, bored
Green Zone – Calm, focused, happy, content, ready to learn
Yellow Zone – Slightly heightened energy, excited, anxious, frustrated, silly, nervous
Red Zone – Extremely heightened energy, angry, panicked, out of control, overwhelmed.
Each zone represents a different variety of energy level and emotion, but it is important to remember that no zone is considered “bad”. The goal is to help children recognize which zone they are in and learn tools to regulate their emotions effectively. While this is beneficial at school so a student can identify if they’re feeling in the red zone before a test and get the appropriate support, it’s also incredibly beneficial at home. So how can you use the Zones of Regulation at home?
How Parents Can Use the Zones at Home:
1. Model and Label Your Own Emotions
Say things like, “I’m in the yellow zone right now because I feel frustrated. I’m going to take a deep breath to calm down. This can help children learn that emotions are natural and manageable.
2. Help Children Identify Their Zones
Ask, “What zone do you think you’re in?” Use a visual chart at home where children can point to their zone. Associate observable body signals with zones and emotions, “I notice your breathing heavily and your face is red, you might feel nervous in the yellow zone.”
3. Teach and Practice Coping Strategies
Blue Zone Strategies – Stretching, listening to music, getting a drink of water.
Green Zone Strategies – Deep breathing, staying engaged in an activity.
Yellow Zone Strategies – Squeezing a stress ball, taking a break, doing jumping jacks.
Red Zone Strategies – Counting to ten, deep breaths, walking away from a situation.
4. Validate Feelings Without Judgment
Instead of saying, “Stop being upset,” try, “I see you’re in the yellow zone. How can I help?”
5. Create a Calm-Down Space
A cozy corner with books, sensory tools, or fidget items can be a helpful place for self-regulation.
6. Encourage Self-Reflection
At the end of the day, ask, “What zone were you in the most today?” and “What helped you feel better?”
By consistently using the Zones of Regulation at home, children can develop self-awareness and emotional regulation skills that will benefit them in school and life. Want to get notified when there’s a new World of Complex Learners blog post?