Kia ora e te whaanau,

I had the privilege recently to attend a conference, and I became engaged in a conversation with other Principals about the skills children need to be well-equipped for the future, thinking about the 21st-century skills for learning. An interesting and important element has been the teaching and learning around emotional intelligence. 

Research has shown that children with higher emotional intelligence tend to perform better academically. They are better equipped to manage stress, maintain focus, and navigate social interactions with peers and teachers. It also supports social and emotional well-being: Developing emotional intelligence helps children understand and manage their emotions, promoting greater well-being and resilience. Children who can identify and manage their feelings can better regulate their behaviours and form positive relationships with others.

Roopuu Maahuri has been implementing The Zones of Regulation programme, and it’s a great framework that we can all use at school and home, so I thought I would share this with all. It also provides strategies to help children regulate their behaviour and responses to different situations. 

The framework is divided into four colour-coded zones, each representing a different level of emotion...

1. Blue Zone: This zone represents a low level of energy or alertness, such as feeling sad, tired, or bored.
2. Green Zone: This zone represents a calm and focused state of mind, where a student is ready to learn and engage with others.
3. Yellow Zone: This zone represents a heightened state of alertness, where a student may feel frustrated, anxious, or excited.
4. Red Zone: This zone represents a significantly heightened state of arousal, where a student may feel angry, aggressive, or out of control.

The Zones of Regulation programme helps students recognise and label their emotions and provides them with tools and strategies to move between different zones as needed. For example, a student feeling anxious or overwhelmed may need to use calming techniques to move from the yellow zone to the green zone. Similarly, a student feeling bored or disengaged may need to use energising strategies to move from the blue zone to the green zone.

Blue Zone (low energy):

• Take a break and do a physical activity, like stretching or going for a walk, fresh air
• Listen to calming music or a guided meditation
• Use a weighted blanket or hug themselves tightly for comfort

Green Zone (calm and focused):

• Take deep breaths to calm down or practice mindfulness
• Use positive self-talk to reinforce positive thoughts and behaviours
• Engage in a favourite activity or hobby to relax and destress

Yellow Zone (heightened alertness):

• Identify the source of their feelings and try to problem-solve or reframe the situation
• Put the problem into perspective 
• Use a stress ball or fidget toy to release tension
• Take a break to do a physical activity or engage in a calming activity, like drawing or writing

Red Zone (extreme arousal):

• Take a break to remove themselves from the situation 
• Use deep breathing or other relaxation techniques to calm down
• Identify a trusted adult or friend to talk to and seek support.

Finding which strategies work for each child is beneficial. There are many resources online for those who are interested in finding out more. 

We are very excited about our Colour Run next week, and it’s been amazing seeing all the donations coming in. Reminder to please let us know if your child does not want to take part in the Colour Run; otherwise, all children will be able to participate and get covered in powder paint as they run through the obstacle course. If you are still wanting to sign your child up to collect donations, here is the website… https://puketahaschoolcolourrun.raiseit.co.nz/hub 

Have a great rest of your week.

Ngaa mihi nui,

Nyree Olliver