Learning to control anger is an important skill, even in childhood. All children are prone to the odd temper tantrum, but when the frequency and intensity of tantrums increases, you must take corrective measures. Teaching your child anger management exercises will help him get a handle on the situation before it has a chance to escalate.
Behavior Substitution
If you can learn to recognize when your child is about to get angry, you can use that window to substitute a different behavior. Counting forward or backward and visualizing something she enjoys can help. Another effective exercise is to pretend to blow bubbles. Have her hold the pretend wand, and blow bubbles into the air. This will take her mind off anger, and force her to take longer, deeper breaths which will help calm the moment, according to the About Kids Health website.
Short and Fast Discipline
During a bout of anger, when the child is not thinking clearly, is not the time for some long, drawn out, dramatic form of discipline. Develop a system of time outs to remove him from the situation, or physically remove him and bring him to a new location if necessary, according to Colorado State University.
Stop, Say and Tell Exercise
For smaller children who need help with anger, implement a "stop, say and tell" exercise, advises GoodCharacter.com. First, have your child stop any negative behavior and count or take deep breaths to calm down. Second, have him use words to say what is bothering him about the situation. Third, have him tell you how he would like the situation to be different, and what he would rather have happened.
7/11 Breathing
The 7/11 technique is like a counting and deep breathing exercise combined. It was devised specifically to deal with stress, anxiety and anger issues and calm the mind, according to the Clare Whiston website. Calming your angry child is as simple as having her breathe in for a count of 7, then out for a count of 11. Try to have her complete the exercise about six times, and all should be well.
Rewards
About Kids Health suggests a reward system is a valuable tool in helping your child deal with anger. When she is in a non-angry state, work out a reward system for successfully practicing her anger management exercises when she gets angry. Rewards don't need to be too indulgent; just a small gesture so she knows she has done something positive.
