Anger Management Skills For Children - 5 Ways To Teach Them
Anger is a common and beneficial emotion. However, a lot of children find it difficult to distinguish between angry emotions and aggressive actions. When children lack the skills to control their emotions, frustration and anger can swiftly escalate into resistance, disrespect, violence, and temper tantrums.
Childhood violence, such as fighting, taunting, and even spitting, might result in more problems if left unchecked.
For instance, hostility and rage have been connected to adult mental illness, peer rejection, and academic issues. Use these five techniques to teach anger control to children who struggle to control their emotions.
Familiarise The Difference Between Feelings & Behaviour
Teach children how to describe their emotions so they can express anger, irritation, and disappointment. Say something like, “It’s OK to be furious, but hitting is not OK.” Help them understand that even when they’re furious, they have control over what they do.
Aggressive conduct can occasionally be caused by a number of unpleasant emotions, such as despair or embarrassment. Therefore, encourage your children to investigate their anger. Perhaps they are upset that a playdate has been cancelled, but they choose to react angrily because it is simpler or because it covers up their grief.
Kids can improve their ability to understand their feelings by having frequent and ongoing conversations about them.
Model The Best Practices For Anger Management
Showing kids how you handle your emotions when you’re furious is the best method to teach them how to control their anger. 3 Kids will probably lose their cool if they witness you doing so. But they’ll also notice if you express your emotions in a kindlier, gentler manner.
Even while it’s crucial to protect your kids from the majority of adult issues, it’s beneficial to model healthy anger management for them. To help your child realise that grownups too get angry sometimes, point out instances when you’ve felt irritated.
It’s acceptable to express anger that the vehicle in front of us failed to stop so that the children could cross the street. However, I’ll stop to allow them to pass securely. Children will learn to communicate about their emotions by hearing others express their own.
Be accountable for your actions when you become enraged in the presence of your children. Say you’re sorry and go over what you ought to have done instead. Say, “I’m sorry you had to witness me screaming at you earlier when I was angry. Rather than raising my voice when I was irritated, I ought to have taken a stroll to relax.
Establish Anger Rules
Most families have unspoken guidelines for what conduct is appropriate and inappropriate when someone is angry. Doors being banged and voices being screamed are acceptable actions in some households, but not in others. Set forth your expectations in written household rules.
Anger guidelines should emphasise treating others with respect.
Discuss topics like physical violence, teasing, and property destruction with your kids so they realise they shouldn’t hurl things, break stuff, or lash out physically or verbally when they’re angry.
Introduce Healthy Coping Skills
Children must learn proper techniques for controlling their anger. Do not tell them, “Don’t hit your sibling,” but rather, “Explain what you can do when you’re angry.” Say something like, “In future, use appropriate words” or “Leave him alone when you’re furious.”
What else could you do rather than hitting? is another question you can use to help your youngster come up with other solutions. You might also make a kit for them to use when they’re agitated to help them calm down.
Put items in a box that will help them relax, like a colouring book and crayons, a scented lotion, or calming music. Their body and mind can be calmed by using their senses.
As a strategy to aid in your child’s relaxation, use time-outs. Educate them that they have the option to take a break before things get out of hand. For children who are prone to get angry, removing oneself from such a setting and taking some time to cool off can be particularly beneficial.
Additionally, teach children how to handle difficulties so they can understand that they don’t always need to use violence. Discuss methods for resolving disputes amicably.
When Needed, Offer Consequences
Give your kids good consequences for adhering to the anger management guidelines and negative penalties for doing so. An appreciation system or monetary reward system, for example, can encourage a child to utilise anger management techniques while they’re furious.
If your youngster acts aggressively, carry out the immediate penalties. Effective sanctions can also involve time-outs, restriction of perks, or paying back the aggressor by doing extra tasks or lending them a toy.
It’s common for children to struggle occasionally with controlling their rage. However, with your supervision, your child’s abilities ought to grow. It’s crucial to seek professional treatment when children struggle to regulate their anger or when those issues seem to be growing worse. A qualified expert can help with the development of a behaviour management plan and also check any underlying mental health concerns.
