While adults can readily recognize signs that they are stressed on anger, this may be difficult for children. So naturally, children will act out in ways that will indicate there is a problem. There are several reasons why children may experience anger, and if you are noticing significant behavior changes in your child, you may want to find out more about anger management in children.
If your child is having trouble at school, this could cause feelings of anxiety or stress that your child may not know how to express. Not fitting in, or not being able to grasp certain academics could cause your child to be withdrawn, or to disrupt the class. If your child’s teacher is expressing concern, it’s time for the three of you to sit down and talk about what may be causing your child’s anger. You should also meet with the teacher to come up with solutions for improving your child’s comprehension and behavior.
Anger management in children may also be necessary after a child experiences a major change or loss, such as moving to a new city, or going from living with both parents to only one. Children may express their anger by role playing, drawing pictures that display these events, or throwing tantrums whenever they don’t get their way, or feel unsafe or uncomfortable. If you notice any of these signs, talk to you child about what’s bothering them. Your child may express that he or she feels sad, or that certain parts of their body are hurting them. When you’re speaking to a child about anger, you may have to ask more ‘trigger questions’–it is easier for a child to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ than to have to explain their feelings in detail.
You can also incorporate anger management in children if you know that your child has a learning disability, or has been diagnosed with ADD or autism. A diet that is filled with all-natural foods and free of coloring and preservatives will help to reduce aggression in your child. And, you can enroll your children in a number of sports activities to increase the blood circulation to the brain and release endorphins. These chemicals act as natural mood enhancers, and can give your children a more positive outlook on life.