Children's Activities for Anger

Children who display frequent bouts of anger often don't have the skills to express feelings in positive ways, nor do they have the coping skills to center themselves and move forward to problem-solve. Anger has both physical and emotional responses, according to researchers Marian Radke-Yarrow and Grazna Kochanska, who authored "Psychological and Biological Approaches to Emotions." Such responses include muscle tensioning, negative thought processing and overt behaviors such as kicking and stomping. To help children, adults need to address both the physical and emotional aspects. Teach kids to relax their bodies, and to recognize and properly express their feelings.

  1. Snowball Melt

    • When children get angry they often curl into a tight, clenched ball. From this position you can teach a child how to recognize muscle tension and how to relax. Ask the child to pretend she is a snowball. As the sun shines down she begins to melt. Slowly have her uncurl her fingers, raise her head, loosen her shoulders and drop her arms to the side. Ask her to feel the snow (her muscles) melting and slowly breathe in the warmth. This enables a child to feel the difference between tension and relaxation, teaching her how to relax.

    Musical Expression

    • Music fosters different moods. Help children identify moods and how music can affect how they feel. Play loud, fast music and have a child paint or draw. Ask him what he was feeling as he painted. Next, play soft, calming music and repeat your question. This practice helps a child sense his own moods and encourages him to talk about feelings. This is important for learning positive ways to express feelings and emotion.

    Puppet and Storytelling

    • Using Puppets to Express Feelings

      Try utilizing puppets to help a child express feelings. If a child has a particularly hard time expressing how she feels, encourage her to tell a story using puppets. You can be the story starter. Create a scenario similar to the issue at hand, which allows a child to connect and identify. For example, say, "Julia seems very angry. Maddy wants her to come out and play. Julia, why are you so mad?" Role playing with puppets is less threatening to a child and helps her to vocalize her thoughts and feelings.

    Books

    • There are many wonderful children's storybooks that deal with situations and emotions children often face. "When Sophia Gets Angry---Really, Really Angry..." by Molly Bang is a great discussion-starter for parents and teachers on what makes a child angry. It also sparks conversation on what your child does when angered and some better ways to deal with anger.

    The Quiet Spot

    • Provide a quiet corner or spot with some plump pillows and a soft mat where your child can go to calm himself. This isn't a time out or punishment, but a place to go to relax and think about the problem. After a few minutes, encourage him to talk through what happened and his feelings.

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