Releasing the Anger in a Constructive Way

• Remind and teach children to recognize when they are beginning to get angry. Physical signs include clenching jaws and fists---before they start yelling. Learning to catch the signs of anger before it explodes can help children to find ways of safely and constructively releasing pent-up anger or frustration. One option for releasing anger safely is to blow or breath out very forcefully. Another possibility is learning to take some "time-out" or "alone-time" to calm down in private. Having your child make angry faces in the mirror is another safe way of releasing anger.
  
  

Not Holding Onto the Anger

• If you find that the child is still angry about the same thing later on, find other ways for them to release the anger rather than hold onto it. Remind the child that talking about what makes her angry is important. If a child is angry, he needs to learn that they do not have to keep it to themselves. One way of communicating is by having a calm, open, conversation. Also, finding non-destructive habits that they can form by safe actions can be helpful.. Drawing pictures about what makes them angry can help a child communicate when he has a hard time finding the right words. Another option is to let her hit or scream into a pillow or tear up an old magazine.
  
  

Stopping Anger Before it Happens

• Learning to recognize that something may make himangry or that upsets him before the anger becomes uncontrollable is a useful trait they can learn. Reminding a child that she is in control of her own feelings, and that no one can make her feel something they do not want to, is useful after a child has calmed down. Talking about what makes her upset or frustrated is a useful learning and teaching tool to help children recognize what upsets them specifically.
  
  

Managing Anger from Bullying

• Being bullied can be a very destructive experience for children. Sometimes, children who are bullied the most lash out and express their frustration and anger by bullying other children. Teaching children not to react to bullying in an angry or upset manner is hard. Reminding children that there are better ways of dealing with and expressing frustration can teach them the difference between appropriate and inappropriate reactions to bullying. Reminding children that they can step away and take a "chill pill" when they feel upset and angry enough to bully is one way of stopping the cycle of anger and bullying.