SEN Zones of regulation - Emotions disk keyring - Visual aid for Autism and LD

SEN Zones of regulation - Emotions disk keyring  - Visual aid for Autism, Learning disabilities & Learning difficulties

Feelings and emotions can be complicated, and young people often struggle to recognise and express how they feel.

Having a simple and common language can help young people recognise their emotions and can also help care givers monitor those feelings and act in a way that will support them.

Many situations and environments can alter and affect how our young people think and feel, but this may often be difficult to relay to a care giver, professional or family member.

Having four colour coded zones, that are tangible and to hand, with additional “I’m ok” or “I’m not ok” for those young people who have further communication issues can help young people recognise when they are in the different zones and be supported to change through or stay in that zone.

This set also has the bonus of the use of “I’m Ok” and “I’m not Ok”, thumbs up and thumbs down disks. We recognise that some young people struggle to initially identify where they might feel within the four colour coded zones and just being able to express these two feelings can be helpful. It can give the young person and the care giver more time to assess the surroundings, situation and help them to determine what might be causing the young person to be feeling “Ok” or “not Ok”. It can be helpful for a young person and cause even less pressure on them, if they are just able to indicate how they feel with these two extra disks.

It is important to note that all people experience all the zones and “red” and “yellow” are not bad or naughty zones, but this is when a young person might need more support. i.e. if in a blue zone and “bored” it still is not ok to disrupt others, and if “red” that’s ok but it still would not be ok to hurt others.

Share your emotions with your young person, voice how you feel within the zones, express in words how you identify with the zones and try and model behaviours that help you to get back into your “green zone”.

The zones

Use the blank boxes to help identify what your feelings are within the zones, below are some examples:

Red Zone - Heightened state of alertness, feeling intense emotions like anger, being terrified, shouting, hitting.

Yellow Zone – Worried, frustrated, excited and maybe loss of some control. (See how there are 2 boxes as this will be an important part for intervention to avoid entering the red zone, try and identify early trigger signs and plan for self-regulation strategies.

Green Zone – Happy and calm, focused, best state for engaging in learning or social activities.

Blue Zone – Sad, feeling poorly, bored, lacking in motivation.

Tips for managing the different zones:

·         Understand your own responses to different situations, scenarios.

·         Understand your young person’s sensory sensitivities, identify potential triggers.

·         Be consistent, have clear boundaries, this helps young people feel safe.

·         Do not try and discuss difficult situations when you are also heightened, strike while the iron is cold. Manage difficult situations safely and calmy, using minimal verbal interaction. Remain emotionally present.

·         Validate and praise your young person for recognising and identifying differing emotional states, discuss strategies to move between zones when you are both “Green”.

·         Always hear your young person’s voice, you may not be able to relate with what they are experiencing but it is their lived experience or perceived threat, and this is what they are trying to manage and communicate. Remain calm, patient and offer continued validation to their experience.

The key ring is easy to store, carry and a great nonverbal and tangible communication tool for helping your young person to express their feelings.

It can be used at school, at home and in social situations. It is an easy way for your young person to express how they are feeling. It can be used as a check in and a way to support your young person moving between the zones, once they are able to recognise them.

Suitable for use for young people with neurodivergence as a safe communication tool.

We’ve also added a “thumbs up” and “thumbs down” tag for easy yes and no.

Built to Last

We build ours to last, cheaper products are made of PLA which doesn’t handle heat or sunlight very well and will bend and fade, we use higher quality PETG for better results.

Product Specifications:

Disc Diameter: 45mm (each)

Disc Thickness: 3mm

Number of Discs: 4 colour-coded zones + Thumbs up and down

Strong keyring

Colours: Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Black & White

1 × Keychain with 6 discs

Suitable Ages 5+ (with supervision)

Durable

Wipe-Clean

Original Face Designs

Won't Fade or deform in the sun or bend

Strong Keyring

Made in the UK

Designed in collaboration with a senior CAMHS nurse, who has 30 years experience in the fields of adult learning disability and autism, children’s learning disability, children’s mental health and crisis intervention. Therapeutic skills include dialectical behaviour therapy, (DBT) and Non-Violent resistance therapy (NVR).

Product safety:

CHOKING HAZARD - Small parts not suitable for children under 3 years or anyone in who have a tendency to place objects in their mouth.

Our products help in the following areas:

SEN, Educational, Autism, Emotions, CAMHS, Children, Special needs, School, Care giver, ASC, Communication keyring, Learning disabilities, Learning difficulties, Visual aid, Zones Of Regulation, TIPP, Stop and go, I’m not okay, I feel unsafe, Yes & no, Widget keyring, Special needs.