The Colour Monster: Supporting Emotional Regulation

At our school, we use The Colour Monster approach to help children recognise, understand and manage their emotions. Based on the popular story by Anna Llenas, the Colour Monster uses different colours to represent different feelings, making emotions easier for children to identify and talk about.

For example:

• Yellow = Happy
• Blue = Sad
• Red = Angry
• Black = Worried or Scared
• Green = Calm
• Pink = Loved
• Multicoloured = Confused

Children are encouraged to check in with their feelings throughout the day, using the Colour Monster language to express how they are feeling. This supports the development of emotional vocabulary, self-awareness and emotional regulation skills.

By helping children recognise their emotions and understand that all feelings are normal and valid, we can support them in choosing appropriate strategies to regulate their emotions, build resilience and develop positive relationships with others.

The Colour Monster approach is used consistently throughout Year R and continues into Year 1, providing children with a familiar and accessible way to understand and express their feelings. As pupils progress through the school, this learning is built upon through the Zones of Regulation programme, which develops their understanding of emotions, self-regulation and wellbeing using age-appropriate language and strategies. This ensures a consistent and progressive approach to supporting children's emotional development across the school.