Emotional regulation and resilience looks different for every child. Traditional approaches assume all brains work the same way. The AURA Zones model recognises that children’s brains are beautifully diverse, and strategies must cater this diversity.
The AURA Zones Emotional Resilience Model is a neuro-affirming
approach designed to help children understand and navigate their
emotional worlds. It is built on the scientific principle that
emotional understanding begins with the body and senses.
This model is structured to be child-led and developmentally
appropriate, moving from foundational sensory awareness to
complex emotional literacy. The model consists of Aura Profile,
which is made up of three core parts; sensory self, mapping and
expressing feelings and, building regulation toolkit.
All emotional experiences originate in the sensory system. Before the brain identifies an emotion such as “happiness” or “frustration,” the body registers it first. Children can be guided to become “sensory detectives,” learning to notice the internal signals of their body (interoception) as well as the sensory cues from their environment (exteroception). By developing these skills, they gain a stronger foundation for understanding and regulating their emotions.
Noticing the Body's Internal Clues
Examples:
Noticing the World's External Clues
Examples:
The next step is to create the personal emotional map that helps them understand what those signals mean by giving them a simple, clear language to describe their internal state.The emotional mapping is built around four Core Emotional Zones. Each zone represents a different state of feeling and energy, helping a child connect the raw data from their body to a meaningful concept based on how the brain manages feelings and actions.
Aura Core Zones
Big feelings, need safety and care. The brain is overloaded and needs co-regulation.
Quiet feelings and need a boost. The brain needs a boost and help with motivation.
Wiggly feelings and need balance. The brain is busy and needs support slowing down.
Stable feelings but brain is balanced. The brain is ready to learn and adopt.
In this final step, a child uses their awareness (Step 1) and their ability to map and express their feelings (Step 2) to master the most advanced skill: regulation. This is where self-awareness transforms into proactive self-management and they choose an action.
As an outcome of developing skills via the framework, children create a toolkit they can use to build emotional resilience and regulate their emotions, throughout their lifetime. This toolkit is based on the principles of being affirming, understanding, regulating and adapting.
Recognising and validating each child's unique emotional and sensory experiences as natural and valuable.
Developing personal awareness of emotional patterns, triggers, and individual regulation needs
Building personalised strategies that work with, rather than against, each child's natural emotional responses
Flexibly adjusting approaches and environments to support emotional wellbeing across different situations.
