Integrating The Zones of Regulation in Early Childhood
Last month, Leah Kuypers, the creator of The Zones of Regulation, joined early childhood educators from the Montessori Society in the United Kingdom for a lively interview and discussion. They delved into the importance of emotional regulation both for early childhood learners and the grown-ups who support them, and explored how The Zones of Regulation framework can be effectively integrated into early education classrooms (and homes).
Discussion with Leah Kuypers and the Montessori Society AMI
Developing Emotional Skills in the Preschool Years
In these early formative years, children are learning how to play together, follow rules, and navigate both structured and unstructured activities. Educators and caregivers play a crucial role in this process by guiding them, offering support during challenges, setting boundaries, nurturing their needs, and fostering their emotional awareness.
It is expected for preschoolers to rely on caregivers to help them manage their emotions, using phrases like “I’m mad,” “I need help,” or “he took my toy from me.” This co-regulation is instrumental at this age, but it’s a lifelong process—think about how we reach out to friends or family for support when we’re upset. By attuning and co-regulating with our young learners, we model and foster skills that guide them toward developing self-regulation.
Best Practices for Teaching The Zones of Regulation to Early Learners
In The Zones of Regulation ® Digital Curriculum, you’ll discover valuable suggestions for introducing and adapting each concept for early and emergent learners. It includes concrete activities and visuals to build foundational emotional language and skills. Here are a few key considerations:
- Pare down emotions to 1 to 3 feelings per Zone, slowly introducing more as learners show they are understanding.
- Consider focusing on one Zone at a time, using a slow and steady approach.
- Spend time identifying facial expressions and body language associated with each Zone.
- Reinforce, reinforce, reinforce! Use storybooks, songs, videos, and games to illustrate Zones concepts over time. (For a list of storybooks that complement Zones concepts, check out our Zones Book Nook.)
- With permission, take pictures of kids, teachers, or family members in their Zones to make this learning accessible and relevant. You may even want to incorporate favorite characters.
- Model The Zones by checking in with your own Zone frequently and demonstrating regulation strategies in real-time.
- Co-regulation: Support learners in using regulation tools together as they move through Zones.
- Offer comfort objects such as stuffed animals, sensory items, and talking to a trusted grown-up as regulation tools.
- Connect with caregivers to help them understand The Zones and use the common language at home. Make sure to reinforce that ALL the Zones are OK!
- You don’t need to teach it all. Young learners are working on developing emotional language strategies and are just emerging in their development to use metacognitive (thinking-based) strategies that come later in The Zones curriculum.
- Move at your learners’ pace, only moving on with lessons/concepts when they show that they are ready.
Experience The Zones of Regulation in a Preschool Program
Want to see The Zones of Regulation in action in an early learning program? Read our School Spotlight on the positive impact The Zones is having on kids, families, and educators in Inverell, Australia. Keep Reading!
Interested in seeing The Zones of Regulation Digital Curriculum for yourself? See a FREE SAMPLE LESSON today!
