Anger Management For Children: What is Involved?

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Why is Anger Management for Children in such demand?

Why are we seeing a spike in anger in our current generation of children?

Several situations contribute to children's lives caught between a rock and a hard place.

We have placed unrealistic expectations on our children who have, more often than not, become latchkey kids, forced to grow up too soon.

We have allowed our children to be subjected to media violence either through TV, video games or music.

We have far too many single parent families. Are we making the right decisions for the child? What impact do custody issues have on the child?

The economic debacle has created many stressed and financially burdened families. Lack of funding has spawned inadequate educational systems.

There is a lack of understanding of mental health issues.

Anger management skills are not being taught to children.

Why Anger Management for Children is Important.

Anger can be placed into two categories: passive and aggressive. Although some traits of these divisions can cross over between categories, all can be effectively resolved through proper anger management skills.

Passive anger has telltale signs: your child gives you the silent treatment or mutters under his breath; he avoids eye contact with you and chooses to stay in his room when you are home. His reticence does not concern you that much; be aware, however, that silent anger can grow into something nasty, perhaps even dangerous.

How often have you heard about the child (seen by all as a quiet loner who would not harm a fly)start a shooting rampage at his school?

Aggressive anger is more easily detectable. It can lead to bodily harm of self and others; it may even lead to death. Common traits of aggressive anger are threats, physical violence, verbal violence, destructiveness, bullying, unjust blaming, selfishness, and unpredictability.

The problem is that any or all of these traits may be present in a child at one time or another. Presentation of such traits does not always mean that the child has an anger issue in need of treatment; yet their pervasiveness should be a signal to the parent or educator that anger management for children skills need to be taught so that the child can learn how to resolve his emotional issues.

If a child is exhibiting these issues on a regular basis or if you are just concerned that your child is at risk of developing aggression issues, it is wise to consider what steps you might take in regards to anger management for children. It is also wise to consider professional consultation so you can have a greater understanding of your child’s emotional needs.

One such resource is the Total Transformation Program(Anger Management for Children) which gives you a trial offer of 30 days. You will experience their full personal support and expertise. It is well-planned, well-tested program that literally turns problem kids around. The question is this: can we afford not to help them?

The Ripple Effect of Defiant Behavior: When Parents Pay the Price

Strategies that Provide Anger Management for Children

Regular Exercise

One strategy that provides anger management for children is regular exercise. There is no doubt that exercise is a natural shock absorber for stress and anger. In one study focusing on the impact of exercise on overweight, but otherwise healthy, children, researchers found that exercise not only helped children manage their weight, it also helped them manage their anger.

Over 200 seven to eleven year olds were divided into two groups. One group participated in a 10-15 week after-school aerobic program. The other control group maintained their usual non-active after-school routines.

What the researchers discovered was that not only did the active children lose weight, they became less aggressive, angry or depressed.

Dr. John J. Ratey in Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, claims that the best natural medication for anger and behavior issues is exercise.

He provides evidence of the benefits of exercise on the brain. Consistent aerobic and cardiovascular exercise generates new neurons in the brain, increases attention span and strengthens emotional control.

Aerobic exercise like running, swimming or biking can rewire the circuitry of the brain. Martial arts training decreases aggression, hostility and neuroticism in children.

Ratey suggests that the highly focused and attention demanding system of martial arts develops the prefrontal cortex of the brain which applies the mental power of these physical skills to other areas in the children’s lives.Exercise is indeed an effective form of anger management for children. In short exercise improves mood control.

There is no doubt that nutrition can help. Correlation has been found between brain food and behavior.

Transforming Anger

Another strategy is teaching the child how to transform anger. Anger is a natural emotion and it is perfectly acceptable to express anger in a way that is healthy, transforming and regenerative.

Art and Music are great avenues for anger expression. There is nothing better than paper and paint to circumscribe in a physical way what is bothering the child.

Diane Ackerman says that “ poetry is a game, a ritual dance with words.” Art is similarly a game, a ritual dance with paint, paper or whatever tools you can find that serve the purpose.

The interesting thing is that in the process of entering the ritual, something happens to the psyche; something disordered and unknown is made manifest, given form and therein lies the magic of anger management for children.

I am reminded here of Jung's situation at a time in his life when he felt "stuck" in depression and anger. A childhood memory surfaced; it was a vision of himself as a ten year old playing passionately with stones and mud, building castles and houses, gates and vaults.

Jung remembered the fascination he had as a child with building blocks and recognized this fascination to be the creative life he has lost.

So what did he do?

He started gathering stones and rocks from the lake shore close by his house and he started building cottages, houses, stores, a whole village--in fact-- just as he did as a child. His conscious mind asked him, "Why are you playing such childish games? You are a grown man!"

But he ignored this question that came from the censor and listened to his heart instead. He knew that this reclaimed fascination with rocks and stones was a call of inner necessity: he was reconnecting with his childhood, the source of his creative life.

Children, like animals, understand that play has its own sacredness. Dolphins echolate in rhythm; they tumble with each other in song. There is dolphin order in their movement, imperceptible though to untrained eyes.

Children instinctively know that play has its own boundaries and that the rules within the boundaries are not necessarily those without. Yet this order inside has, in one way or another, calmed the beast outside.

Ultimately anger management for children is helping them negotiate a way between a rock and a hard place.

It is all about being nimble and flexible enough to make the best decisions for the moment. A brain sprouting multi-layered routes can accommodate just about anything.

Keep Your Cool

Most important of all is that you as parents must keep your cool. Be an active listener, but do not over-react to what your child tells you. The best form of anger management for children is anger management for parents.

Focusing on building a repertoire of family rituals also can help ground the child in a sense of place and belonging.Recent studies show that involving teens in something as simple as daily family dinner can do much to change their delinquent tendencies and behavior. Even children with a genetic disposition to violence can be moderated by a positive social environment.

Do not give in to your own anger:Temper, Temper: Keeping Your Cool When Kids Push Your Buttons.

Disclaimer: The above information is meant only to inform and should never displace professional consultation.

We act as an affiliate for Legacy Publishing Company Are you having trouble with your terrible twos? Our Talking to Toddlers Program can show you how to get your kids to listen and do as you ask.

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