Anger Management Techniques for Young Children

Recognizing Anger Symptoms

• Many adults can recognize when they become angry, but it's not always obvious to younger children, according to AngerManagementTips.com. Therefore, the first anger management step for kids is to learn the physical symptoms of anger and how each are linked to the emotion, according to the website. A helpful book to read to or with young children about the signs of anger is "A Volcano in My Tummy: Helping Children to Handle Anger," according to learningbooks.net.

Provide Alternatives

• Once kids have the ability to identity anger, parents can teach children how to re-frame or redirect the emotion, according to AngerManagementTips.com. Parents should provide choices or show the child alternatives to acting on his anger. For example, the website suggests teaching a child that if a project is too hard, instead of getting angry, they can seek help from a parent or friend.

Physical Exercise

• Sometimes younger kids need to run, jump or shout to manage angry feelings. Tips for working off a child's anger include taking them on a bike ride, having a pillow fight or asking them to run around the house a few times. Dancing to loud music is another suggestion from HelpStartsHere.org.

Bubble Blowing for Breathing

• Many adults have realized the benefits of deep breathing to calm angry or anxious feelings. Kids can be taught this technique by learning to blow bubbles slowly, according to HelpStartsHere.com. Young children can be taught that quick breathing does not result in the big bubbles that slow, deep breaths provide, according to the website. Other techinques to show children how to slow breathing is teaching how to count backwards from 10.

Angry Balls

• Creating "angry balls" is another recommended activity that parents and young children can do together. An angry ball is made by filling a balloon with dry rice or sand and securing the tie. When anger strikes, young kids can soothe their powerful feelings by mashing the ball, throwing it on the floor or squeezing it.

Space

• Some adults know the feeling of just wanting to be left alone, but even young children, who are upset, can benefit from space, according to FamilyEducation.com. If a caregiver moves away from a child who is angry, and the child does not express further irritation, odds are that the child needs a little downtime, according to the website. A parent or caregiver should resassure the child that he will not be left alone but explain that he will not be touched or talked to either unless the child asks.