Radio Commentary
Everybody gets angry. But you can
help your child take responsibility for heading off angry outbursts.
Start by
asking your child what situations seem to make him angry. He might say:
•
When I lose a game.
•
When someone says something untrue about me.
•
When my little brother uses my things.
•
When I want to do something that I can’t.
Then
brainstorm alternatives with your child about how to diffuse the emotions.
Ask, for
example, “If you’re losing a game and you know that can make you angry, what
might you do instead?”
One
technique is to help think of a few phrases your child can repeat over and over
until the anger subsides, such as, “It’s only a game,” or “I can stay cool
about this.”
You should
also help your child practice things he can say to others to get out of a
situation where he’s likely to get angry.
He might say, for example, “I have
to go home now,” or “I’m too mad to talk about this right now.”
Other
suggestions to help a child control anger might include listening to music,
running around the yard to wear off some energy, or writing a story about the
situation.
With parents’ help, most children can learn to take
responsibility for managing their anger before it gets out of hand.
