Everyone feels angry at some point, and it is important to teach children how to deal with their anger appropriately so that they do not act out with violence or bullying. While it is best to talk to your child about anger and how to handle it before it becomes a problem, you can work with your child to help him change his behavior, even if he has already had issues with anger and negative consequences. Talk to your child's doctor or therapist if you have any concerns about his emotions, particularly how he handles anger. Children who are diagnosed with certain conditions, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, may require counseling or medication to help them control themselves, explains the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Step 1
Talk to your child about how she can determine when she is feeling angry. Explain that she may feel warm, tense or have a sudden urge to yell or cry. Teaching your child how to recognize her anger can help her take control of the situation instead of acting out based on emotion.
Step 2
Make a list of things your child can do when he feels angry to help him take a break from the situation so that he can handle it appropriately. Include your child's ideas when making the list and suggest things such as counting to 10, singing a song or taking a short walk, suggests KidsHealth.
Step 3
Discuss possible solutions for handling a situation that makes your child angry. Encourage her to think about how to respond to the situation while she takes her "time out," and explain that she must think about the potential positive and negative consequences of whichever response she chooses.
Step 4
Write down fictitious situations that may make your child angry on index cards, such as a child taking something that belongs to him or calling him a name. On the opposite side of each card, write down possible actions your child could take, both positive and negative, and the consequences of each action.
Step 5
Read the situations aloud to your child and allow him to choose a response to the situation. Discuss the outcome of the situation based on the option he chose and explain how the incident could have ended differently depending on his choice to illustrate that handling anger calmly and diplomatically will produce the best results.
Step 6
Tell your child that you are always available to talk about her feelings. Talk to her about other adults that can help her deal with her emotions, such as a teacher or adult family friend, if she is not comfortable talking to you about the situation.
Step 7
Praise your child or offer a reward when he handles his anger appropriately, such as dealing diplomatically with a sibling during a dispute. Offering positive reinforcement can help encourage your child to handle anger appropriately in the future, explains KidsHealth.
Tips and Warnings
- Refrain from yelling and name-calling when you are angry. By displaying a positive example of how to handle anger, your child will be more likely to make rational decisions when dealing with her own feelings, explains KidsHealth.
Things You'll Need
- Index cards
