When a child is struggling to explain whether they feel tired, worried, calm or close to losing control, this Zones of Regulation poster offers clear words and colour-coded prompts to start the conversation. It can support emotional check-ins in classrooms, counselling rooms, family homes and one-to-one sessions with children who benefit from visual emotion regulation tools.
Everyday check-ins become more focused when children can connect body sensations, energy levels and feelings to a simple visual framework. The poster introduces the four Zones of Regulation: blue for low energy, green for calm and ready, yellow for higher energy, and red for very high energy.
Each colour zone includes child-friendly examples of feelings. Blue zone words include sad, tired, sick and bored; green includes happy, calm, focused and comfortable. Yellow zone identifies worried, frustrated, excited, restless and overwhelmed, while red zone covers furious, panicked, out of control and extremely upset.
A central signpost links the zones to energy states, using low energy, calm and ready, higher energy, and very high energy. The bottom of the poster reinforces that all zones are OK, then gives a four-step self-regulation sequence: notice what is happening in the body, name the zone, choose what may help, and try a suitable strategy.
Teachers, SENCOs, school pastoral staff, child therapists and parents may find it useful as a printable feelings chart for primary-aged children, autistic children, pupils with ADHD, or young people developing emotional literacy. Display it during daily check-ins, use it alongside calm-corner activities, or invite a child to point to their current zone before discussing coping strategies.
