15+ Harm-Free Anger Management Activities For Kids
Children are beautiful gifts that need maximum care, attention, and love. But sometimes they can get on your nerves when they are angry. Hence, the need for your to engage them with different anger management for kids.
First of all, it is important that you come to the realization that everyone gets angry at some point in time, but being kids, they may channel their anger wrongly.
But that is why they look up to you the parent, guardian, or tutor for guidance. For most new parents, this may seem a bit of a burdensome task. But what better way to learn, than a simplified method of engaging the kids properly when they are angry?
In this article, you would get easy ways that you can apply to help your kids manage their anger and strategies to make them still know you love them while quenching the fire of anger.
A Brief On Anger Management
Before seeking anger management activities for kids, you must have seen a lot of definitions of anger management. Nevertheless, anger management is simply the ability for you to control your temperament without losing control of your emotion.
From the above definition, you can see that anger management is a very serious issue, and for kids, it could spell danger if no one helps them learn to control their temperament. But luckily for them, you would be there to guide them!
3 Strategies To Teach Children About Anger
Before looking at the anger management activities for kids, you should understand these 3 strategies before engaging them in various activities.
- Why do I feel angry?
- What happens when I feel angry?
- What should I do with my anger?
Why do I feel angry?
How can you engage in anger management activities with your child if you can’t make them understand why they feel angry?
Even for you as an adult, it may take you time to decipher why you feel angry. But if there is someone with whom you always feel comfortable discussing things, you would easily decipher why you feel angry, right?
Also read: 29 Bond-Strengthening Father-Daughter Activities
Well, it is the same thing with your kids. It would be very difficult to engage them in anger management activities for kids if you cannot help them decipher why they feel angry in the first place.
And how can you do this? It is very simple. All you need is to establish a good line of communication and openness.
What happens when I feel angry?
As an elder, it is very important that you let your kid understand what happens when they feel angry. This would help you easily engage them with anger management activities for kids.
If your child understands that their stress level can rise as a result of anger and that friendships could be burned as a result of it, amongst other factors, they would definitely love the various anger management programs for kids that you would eventually pick.
What should I do with my anger?
The final strategy that would make it easy for your child to cope with anger management activities for kids is for them to understand what to do with their anger.
And this is where you come in with your choice of anger management activities for kids. And below are various anger management activities that you can pick from.
Anger Management Activities For Kids
Given below are anger management activities for kids that you can pick from. Any of them would sit well with your kids, and to spice it up, you can routinely change any of the anger management practices you use at any point in time.
1. Deep breathing
Breathing simply involves the exchange of gas between an individual and the environment. And this tops the anger management activities for kids because, on breathing, the nervous system would be made calm.
As you know, when one is angry, they tend to breathe fast due to bottled emotions that need to be let out. For a practical feeling, you could try any of these:
- You could tell them to breathe out loudly as a means of blowing out the anger and taking in peace.
- You could engage their creativity and tell them to imagine being in a garden filled with butterflies, watching a sunset, and inhaling the wind.
2. Create a journal for writing when angry
Despite speaking well, many kids struggle to communicate their rage. They also lack the appropriate words to communicate their emotions.
But as one of the anger management activities for kids, you need to teach them the use of emotional terminologies, such as angry, irritated, frustrated, and nervous.
Also read: How to Help Children Who Have Bottled-Up Emotions
Once kids are familiar with these terms, they will be able to communicate their anger without hiding it or acting out inappropriately.
3. Introduce the 1+3+10 exercise
Teach kids the technique for remaining cool in the face of anger. Stopping and reminding themselves to remain cool is the first step. The next step is for them to inhale slowly for three breaths. Then they should count backward from ten.
This is also one of the best activities for anger management. One round of the 1+3+10 exercise will help them calm down and control their rage.
4. Try some relaxation methods
Children who become angry can calm down more rapidly by using relaxation techniques to manage their anger.
As part of anger management activities for kids, you can teach your youngster to:
• Breathe deeply a few times.
• Relax their whole body, from the forehead to the jaws, neck, and other muscular groups, one at a time.
• Enter a meditative or restful state of mind.
5. Add diversionary activities
Distraction is an effective strategy for diverting kids’ attention from their rage. As one of the best anger management activities for kids, you can try blowing bubbles with them.
To start, you can create actual bubbles by using a soap solution and a wand. Children can even pretend to blow bubbles as a relaxing strategy as they come to understand the concept. For older kids, activities like going for a walk outside, listening to music, cycling, etc., can help them divert their attention from their anger.
6. Play the emotion charades.
Children may learn to distinguish between various emotions by participating in this activity with their family members. To add this to the anger management activity with your kid, you can play around with different acts and emotions as your child guesses.
7. Tell stories and use puppets.
It may not be appropriate to be angry because anger can be a bad feeling. But since every emotion serves a different purpose, none of them are bad.
Storytelling can also rank among the best anger management activities for kids. Children can learn through stories how to deal with challenging circumstances. Children who read about characters may be motivated to adopt their methods and learn from them.
Also, you can use puppets to help your child express their anger if they feel awkward talking about it. You might also call their rage something interesting like the “anger monster.” This will enable kids to better express their emotions and become more at ease with the idea of being angry.
8. Make an iceberg of rage
For older kids who are aware of various emotions but are unable to express them effectively, this activity may be helpful.
For instance, children sometimes find it easier to mask their vulnerable emotions behind rage if they are concerned, hurt, disappointed, or ashamed.
However, finding the true cause of the anger is the only way to reduce it. Children can ponder and write down the real reasons for their anger at the bottom of the iceberg that you help them draw with fury at the top.
This practice will assist you and your kids with comprehending the source of the anger and how to control it.
9. Give anger a face
Most kids who frequently lose their temper or have tantrums learn that they are a problem. However, they could have negative impacts from this feeling. You should explain to your kids that they are not the issue; rather, it is their anger.
To include this in the anger management activity for your kids, you can give their fury a name so they may view it as having a distinct personality.
Also, you can encourage them to visualize their rage and create a drawing of it. Children feel more in control when they begin to think of their anger as a separate creature from themselves.
10. Encourage roleplay
Children express their feelings more effectively when they role-play. As they take part in the roleplay, they gain insight into how the character handled a challenging circumstance.
For instance, you could tell them how meek and gentle a sheep is, and that it is loved by all. But a fox (anger) is not loved. That way, they would want to behave like sheep when angry.
Children can control their emotions through this technique until their rage passes. Regular roleplaying with youngsters will help them develop their imagination, communication skills, and ability to express their feelings in words.
11. Make a serene area
Children can calm themselves down in designated areas at home or school when they become agitated or furious. These areas concentrate on teaching kids about mindfulness and peace.
This is also one of the best anger management activities for kids because it allows them to have their own space.
In these corners, you may put a plush rug, blankets, treasured novels, and soft toys. Include children’s artwork, family pictures, and any applicable inspirational remarks.
But be careful not to make them think the calm down zone is for punishment. Instead, be upbeat and prod them to retreat to those areas when they’re upset.
12. Make a drawing
While some kids may not be able to express themselves verbally, they can communicate their emotions through drawing. They find that drawing induces relaxation and serenity.
Channeling their anger into art is also among the best anger management activities for kids. Therefore, encourage your kids to express their anger through drawing if they enjoy doing so. Additionally, it allows them the creative flexibility to say things that they are experiencing or thinking but might not be able to convey verbally.
13. Take note of triggers, and avoid them
When asked to do something they dislike or quit doing something they enjoy doing, many kids get irritated or furious. For instance, if you tell them to stop playing, watching TV, or doing their homework, they can become angry.
But by giving them advance notice, getting them ready, or breaking the process down into steps, you can see these triggers and prevent a meltdown.
Also read: 11 Practical Advice for Parents of Strong-Willed Children
Therefore, you may inform them that they only have ten more minutes to watch their show if you want them to turn off the television. Time warnings will aid in planning and help prevent irrational outbursts of wrath.
You can see how these anger management activities for kids can foster better relationships between you and your kids, right?
14. Reward composure
Children should be praised and given rewards when they practice and improve their anger management techniques. Give them a point each time they try to control their rage.
As one of the best anger management activities for kids, these points can be exchanged for gifts, such as more screen time, a toy, or a trip to the park.
15. Keep a journal of your rage
Writing out one’s furious feelings and thoughts might be a good way for kids to cope. Additionally, it enables individuals to think more critically, reflect on what has occurred, and approach a situation from a fresh perspective.
It is especially beneficial when used as a tool for introspection on oneself. After writing down their feelings, kids may become more composed and in control.
Last Thoughts On Anger Management Activities For Kids
As promised, this article has shown you the best strategies and activities kids can engage in to manage their anger. Also, you have been drawn to the realization that we all can be angry, and a healthy outlet would be needed.
Prior to now, you may not have been aware of these simple anger management activities for kids. But with these, you can learn to do better.
It is also important that you note that all of these would take some time and adjustment. But in the long run, it would turn out fine.
You have definitely found insight in this article, and what better way to show you care than by sharing this article with parents, guardians, and tutors that may need it.