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The Zones of Regulation

The Zones of Regulation

The Zones of Regulation® is s digital program that helps students understand and manage their emotions using color zones and interactive lessons.

  • Online

Pricing: Paid

Origin: Developed elsewhere but applicable for Australian schools

Product type: Program; Posters; An App; Online resources (e.g. videos, games, tools, readings); Activity sheets; Student activities; Professional learning; Whole school approach or initiative; Learning modules; Class lesson plans

Contact details

The Zones of Regulation

https://zonesofregulation.com/digital-curriculum/

info@zonesofregulation.com

Focus areas

  • Positive relationships

  • Belonging and inclusion

  • Mental health literacy and life skills

  • Self-regulation and engagement

Curriculum alignment

Prospective users

Audience: Whole school universal (Tier 1), Whole class universal (Tier 1), Targeted small group early intervention (Tier 2), Intensive individualised approach (Tier 3)

Communities: Diverse cultures or language groups, Neurodiversity or disability

Context: School or centre-based, Outside School Hours Care (OSHC), Home-schooling, E-schools

Main beneficiaries: Early learning, Foundation/Prep, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6, Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, Year 10, Year 11, Year 12

Delivery style: Classroom teacher is trained

Aims & approach

The Zones of Regulation® is a framework and curriculum designed to support children, young people, and adults in building skills for self-regulation and self-awareness. It is widely used by educators, therapists, and caregivers with learners ages 4 and up, including those with diverse learning needs, to provide a complete, proven system to support emotional wellbeing.

The Digital Curriculum offers 10 engaging concepts (units) that adapt to learners' needs over time. Educators and practitioners build their knowledge through Training led by Zones experts, available live, on-demand, or in person. To reinforce learning, a variety of Companion Products - including books, posters, games, and apps - bring The Zones framework to life in everyday practice.

Implementation pacing is flexible, but direct instruction is recommended for a minimum of 40 minutes per week over a minimum of 4 months. Many schools integrate The Zones across a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) through weekly instruction, small group work, and/or individual support plans.

Optional Training is available and highly encouraged to support fidelity, deepen knowledge of the framework, and equip educators with practical tools for fostering emotional regulation.

Annual subscriptions are priced per user, with discounts for multi-subscription purchases. Though developed in the United States, the program is in wide use and well-suited in Australian classrooms, with comprehensive alignment to the Australian Curriculum (read the PDF).

Implementation support

  • Access to professional facilitator, instructor or mentor
  • Implementation training webinars or modules
  • Ongoing helpdesk, email or phone support
  • Regular webinars or access to community of professional practice

Evidence

The Zones of Regulation draws from established theories in neuroscience, developmental psychology, positive mental health, and social emotional learning. It has been shaped by over a decade of applied use in educational and clinical settings worldwide.

Studies conducted by independent researchers have consistently shown significant improvements across multiple areas of learner development, including:

  • Self-regulation: Increased self-awareness, self-management, and decision-making
  • Social behaviour: Improved social awareness, communication, and relationship skills
  • Emotional wellbeing: Reduced emotional reactivity, sadness, and nervousness
  • Maladaptive behaviour: Decrease irritability, hyperactivity, and inattention
  • Academic outcomes: Improved grades and standardised achievement scores
  • Exclusionary discipline: Reduced use of exclusionary discipline practices
  • Teaching practices: Increased teacher self-efficacy in supporting students' social and emotional needs

The program was recently trialled in ASPECT classrooms to support students with autism: Zones-of-Regulation-report. Read more about the research associated with The Zones of Regulation, here.