Anger Management Techniques With Children

Anger is a powerful emotion, especially when expressed by children. Parenting an angry child can be a challenging and often upsetting experience. If you are a parent of an angry, disruptive child, there are anger management techniques that can be used to teach your child how to cope with, express and manage his angry feelings.

  1. Being A Good Role Model

    • How you display your own feelings of anger is important. You can't expect a child to control his temper if you have trouble controlling your own. Good self-control, particularly in reaction to an angry outburst, is crucial in helping your child manage his anger. Explain to your child that feeling angry is normal. It is how he expresses his anger that is important.

    Communication

    • If a child feels ignored or isolated, this can lead to feelings of frustration and anger. Communicating one-on-one with your child is vital and can improve her feeling of self-worth and confidence. Allocate a set time period each day in which you talk one-on-one about what you have both been doing that day. Don't be afraid to address a child's anger. Ask her if she felt angry or upset and who or what triggered those feelings.

    Keeping Busy

    • Being active can help lift a child's mood.

      Keeping your child busy and entertained can help improve an angry mood. Going on a bike ride, helping your child with a picture or homework, or playing a game keep a child active and calm. When you can, involve your child in something you are doing, such as helping with dinner or washing the car. This will increase your child's self-confidence and help him feel like he is an important member of the family. Being active helps a child work off his anger by giving him something else to focus on.

    Breathing Exercises

    • The clinical director of Flor de Sol alternative school in Phoenix, Dr. Sal Severe, recommends breathing exercises to calm an angry child. Make sure she is somewhere quiet and calm before asking her to take two slow, deep breaths. It may help if you also do the breathing exercises with your child. Anger increases the heart rate and the speed at which blood is pumped through the body. By breathing slowly and regularly, you help your child to physically and mentally settle down.

    Consistency

    • When dealing with angry and disruptive behavior, be consistent. Reward good behavior. Keep a reward chart to remind your child how well he is doing and to give him incentives. Punishing unacceptable behavior consistently is important, too. If your child is naughty three nights in a row, make sure the punishment is the same each time. Children like routines. They like to know where they stand and by being consistent you are helping keep a stable balance.

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