My 5 Favourite techniques for handling Anger

Anger Management: 5 Favourite Techniques

John puts snot in Shane's school lunch, Mary is scratching her wrist so it bleeds, Chris is banging chairs against the wall so they come apart - so what can we do?  The 'Aah' factor does not work nor does anger escalation where we get more angry than the child.  What strategies can be used as interventions in these scenarios, that are all remarkably similar and highly personal?

1. When children are angry 

• they push the boundaries, 
• create bigger boundaries with giant paint-brushes or jumbo crayons

2. When children are angry 

• they hurt themselves in isolation
• experiment with interactive games such as cat's cradle or grandmother's footsteps

3.  When children are angry

• they have messy feelings
• encourage messy play with finger paints or clay

4.  When children are angry

• they want to destroy things
• change them into puddle-jumping, water-splashing or paper shredding

5. When children are angry

• their feelings are muddled
• transform them through a story where the feelings are clear such as Ugly Duckling 

 

Remember: try setting limits in different ways and transform the angry energy into creative activities