The Chatterbox is a playful way for children to check in with how they’re feeling and what their body needs. It combines ideas from emotional regulation frameworks such as the Zones of Regulation (referred to here as “green, yellow, blue, and red zones”) ((Kuypers, 2011) and the ALERT Program (“How Does Your Engine Run?”) (Williams & Shellenberger, 1996).
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Understanding the “Zones”
- Blue Zone – low energy or feelings like tired, sad, or flat.
- Green Zone – calm, focused, and feeling “just right.”
- Yellow Zone – slightly elevated energy such as excited, worried, or frustrated.
- Red Zone – very high energy or big feelings such as angry, out of control, or panicked.
Linking to the ALERT Program
The ALERT framework helps children understand energy levels using the analogy of an engine:
- Slow engine – low energy, hard to get going.
- Just right engine – steady, calm, ready to play or learn.
- Fast engine – high energy, possibly anxious or overly excited.
- Super fast or out of control – difficulty managing impulses or emotions.
Combining the Two Approaches
When we pair the emotional “areas” with the ALERT engine model, children can explore both how their body feels and what emotion goes with it.
- For example: “My body feels fast and my emotion is in the yellow area. Maybe I’m excited or nervous.”
This helps build body awareness, self-reflection, and language around emotions and energy.
Using the Chatterbox
Children can use the Chatterbox to:
- Identify their current area and energy level.
- Choose a matching regulation strategy – such as movement, breathing, sensory input, or connecting with someone.
- Return to a “just right” state for learning and play.
Purpose
The goal is not to label emotions as good or bad, but to support children in recognising how their body feels, and to learn practical ways to shift their energy when needed. The Chatterbox turns this process into something playful and accessible, helping children build lifelong emotional regulation skills.
References:
Kuypers, L. M. (2011). The Zones of Regulation: A curriculum designed to foster self-regulation and emotional control. Think Social Publishing.
Williams, M. S., & Shellenberger, S. (1996). How does your engine run?® A leader’s guide to the ALERT Program® for self-regulation. TherapyWorks, Inc.
