Exploring Emotions 1.4.2

"Exploring Emotions" is a highly recommended app for educators working with students on emotional regulation. This application provides a stimulating and enjoyable approach to developing self-regulation skills, offering relatable everyday scenarios for students to engage with.

"Exploring Emotions" is built upon the well-established framework, The Zones of Regulation®, created by Leah Kuypers (www.zonesofregulation.com). The framework has been widely adopted and is available as a curriculum (2011, Social Thinking Publishing, www.socialthinking.com) as well as an original app titled "The Zones of Regulation". The Zones of Regulation introduces four distinct colored "zones" that help categorize emotions, sensory states, and feelings. By providing a simple language and visual structure, students can develop self-awareness and effectively communicate their emotions to others. Furthermore, students learn about various tools and how they can be used to manage each zone. The app plays a significant role in assisting students in consciously regulating their behaviors in response to social and environmental demands.

One of the strengths of "Exploring Emotions" is its ability to reinforce The Zones framework while also addressing self-regulation needs. The app provides a comprehensive learning experience through several key features:

• The inclusion of audio voiceover enhances student engagement by providing social interactions between characters and instructional teachings throughout the app.
• Data tracking allows students to apply what they learn in the app to their daily lives by self-monitoring and reflecting on their feelings (Zones) and how they managed them during different events. The recorded data can be saved, revisited, edited, and even emailed.
• Easy navigation enables students to revisit any point in the app, replay scenarios, and explore different outcomes.
• The app incorporates an extensive toolbox that can be fully customized by students. They are introduced to and categorize numerous tools to help manage their zones, and they can adjust the content of their toolbox to suit their individual needs.
• Mini games are integrated into the app, providing real-time opportunities for students to reflect on the outcomes of games and how they trigger different emotions.
• Multiple environments, such as a classroom, cafeteria, and park, offer various scenarios, events, and activities for students to participate in. These relatable situations help students connect their app learning to real-life situations.
• The app includes reinforcing activities, such as unlocking mini games and customizing avatars by coloring hair and purchasing outfits.
• References to The Zones of Regulation curriculum are embedded throughout the app to assist adults in finding additional educational resources that reinforce learning.

"Exploring Emotions" is suitable for Pre-K, elementary, secondary students, as well as adults who struggle with emotional control. To maximize learning outcomes, it is recommended that an adult closely monitors the student's progress in the app. Engaging in discussions and asking probing questions about how the app's content can be applied in real life can greatly enhance the learning experience. Additionally, "Exploring Emotions" serves as a valuable resource for parents looking to teach and promote self-control and emotional management at home using The Zones framework. Therapists and teachers seeking to address social-emotional learning (SEL) will find "Exploring Emotions" to be an exciting tool that motivates students to actively participate.

This app offers an engaging and enjoyable experience for students while developing essential skills in self-regulation and emotional control. Download "The Zones of Regulation: Exploring Emotions" today!