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 avoid 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.
