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Letting
anger get out of hand is dangerous.
So is holding it in. Anger
that we do not deal with now creates problem situations later when it is
released for “no apparent reason.”
Effectively dealing with an angry child takes two approaches:
 Avoiding unnecessarily frustrating
situations.
Taking appropriate actions when anger is a
problem.
Here
are some ideas to help deal with an angry child:
Praise your child’s good behavior. The more you reinforce good behavior, the
more of it you will see.
Ignore inappropriate behavior you can
tolerate. Pick your battles
carefully. Do not ignore the
child. If you ignore inappropriate
behavior you are showing the child that it is acceptable.
Help your child be good. Control situations so that behaving
appropriate is easy. Remove
unnecessary temptations and encourage plenty of activities that work off
energy.
Children respond well to touching and
closeness. A hug or other display
of affection can help an angry child gain control. Even just moving closer to a child can calm him or her.
Say, “NO!” Clearly indicate what is acceptable and unacceptable.
Explain things. Understanding a situation can help a child understand why
they are angry and calm them down.
Explain how the child’s behavior makes you feel. Ask them to try and see the situation from
your point of view.
Work with your child to build and
maintain a positive self-image.
Children that see themselves as “bad kids” are not likely to be
good. Make children understand that
you love them and that they have strengths as well as weaknesses.
Teach children to talk about their anger. If a child discusses their anger, they are
less likely to “blow up.” Allow your children
to express anger in words and not in outbursts or violent acts.
Be a positive role model. Take care to make sure your children see
you deal with anger appropriately.
Be careful with physical restraint. While it might be necessary to physically
restrain a child to keep himself or herself or someone else from getting
hurt, do not use physical restraint for punishment.
Use punishment as a last resort. Always ask yourself if it is necessary
to punish a child or are you just blowing off steam. When possible, use other methods to address
problems.
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