20 Awesome Anger Management Activities for Kids

When kids are angry, it can be hard to know how to help them. Kids, however, have a lot of different ways they might express their anger. So it’s important to remember your role in the relationship and find ways that you can help them learn how to manage their emotions. If you’re looking for ways to manage your child’s anger, here are 20 great activities that can improve mood and decrease inappropriate behavior while helping your kids learn important skills.

20. Break Cards

When children feel overwhelmed by their emotions, it can be helpful to have a visual tool to help them understand and communicate what they’re feeling. Break cards are a great way to do this. They provide a space for kids to draw or write about what’s happening inside them, and then they can “break” the card by tearing it up or cutting it into pieces. According to Veryspecialtales, this is a great way to help kids understand that their anger doesn’t have to control them, and it can also be a helpful way to start a conversation about anger with your child.

19. Counting Numbers

When a kid becomes angry, their mind gets in the way of rational thinking. Instead of considering the baseball that just hit them on the head as an accident, they might become enraged because they think someone is doing it on purpose. Counting to 10 can help kids take a step back and consider how they want to act instead of simply reacting. Counting can also help with deep breathing, lowering the heart rate and allowing your child to think more clearly. If 10 isn’t enough, have them try counting to 20 or even 100.

18. Problem-Solving Ability Training

Most kids will find themselves in situations where they feel anger but don’t know how to react appropriately. A problem-solving ability training exercise can improve your child’s ability to recognize and respond to emotions in a productive way when they occur. You can role-play different scenarios with your child or give them opportunities to practice real life. For example, if your child gets mad when they don’t win a game, you can have them practice what they would do in that situation before playing the next time.

17. Play Video Games

Nowadays, video games aren’t just for entertainment anymore; they can also be used for anger management. There are now a variety of games that can help kids to learn how to control their emotions. Look for games specifically focusing on managing anger, such as those requiring the player to solve problems calmly and effectively. When playing these games, encourage your child to take deep breaths and think about what they’re doing before taking action.

16. Punching Bags

You can find punching bags at most sporting goods or department stores. Hanging a punching bag in your child’s room can give them a way to relieve stress and pent-up energy. Be sure to teach your child how to use the punching bag safely so they don’t hurt themselves. When your child is feeling angry, encourage them to take some time to hit the punching bag. They can let out all of their frustration while getting some exercise. According to Positive psychology, this can be a great way to release their anger healthily. Punching bags can also be a visual aid to help your child calm down. When they start to feel angry, have them visualize hitting the punching bag until they feel better. This can help them to physically and mentally release their anger.

15. Art Activities

Art can be a very effective outlet for kids who need to express their emotions. Drawing, painting, and sculpting can help your child learn how to move their anger differently, allowing them to experience frustration in a safe environment. Art activities bring a lot of fun and encourage your child to think as they explore their creative side. When children finish their art, they often see their anger in a new light and be proud of what they have accomplished. You can support your child by providing them with materials, such as crayons, clay, and paint, and encouragement to express their emotions through art.

14. Hobbies and Interests

Your kid must have some hobbies and interests. It is essential for children to have at least one hobby or interest. It helps them stay engaged and motivated. You need to spot your kid’s talents and encourage them to explore their hobbies. They can always take out their frustration by pursuing their hobbies when angry. Let the kids do what they like and feel passionate about. Some examples of hobbies and interests include playing musical instruments, painting, swimming, biking, and hiking.

13. Go for a Walk

You can use this opportunity to teach your child how to deal with their anger constructively. Instead of lashing out, try going for a walk instead. This will help clear your child’s head and allow them to release their anger healthily. Walking is a low-impact energy release that keeps them moving and simultaneously calms them down. You might even ask them to try counting their footsteps as they walk, so they learn how to channel their anger into something productive and positive instead of destructive or disruptive.

12. Play Music

Listening to music can help your child relax because it allows them to focus their attention on anything as long as they are focused on listening. Listening to music can also help your child become more aware of how they feel and respond to situations by focusing their attention on the music itself. This way, they can maintain a level head when frustrated. Music does this by engaging the brain’s reward centers, making it an ideal way to help your child deal with negative feelings without lashing out.

11. Ride a Bike

Kids riding bikes is a fun activity that can help to diffuse anger. It is also great exercise! When kids are angry, they often feel cooped up and frustrated. Riding a bike can help to release that energy positively. You should take long trails and go off the beaten path, making the experience more fun. Be sure to teach your kids to stay safe while riding a bike. They should always wear a helmet and be aware of their surroundings. Create conversations while riding to help your kids feel more comfortable expressing their feelings.

10. Play Distracting Activities

You can try some distracting activities to help your kids calm down when they are feeling angry. Try playing fun games, songs, or stories. You can also try drawing or painting. These activities can help your child focus on something else and forget what made them angry. This activity can also help them positively express their feelings. When you are angry, it is important to do something to help you calm down. You can try some breathing exercises or relaxation techniques. You can also try to think about something else that makes you happy. These activities can help you feel better and prevent you from doing something you might regret.

9. Stressing Breathing Techniques

These are the best anger management activities for kids to help them understand and control their emotions. It is important to teach your child how to deal with anger constructively so that it doesn’t become a destructive force in their life. The first step is to teach your child some basic breathing techniques to help them relax when they start to feel angry. According to Momjunction, once they know how to control their breathing, they can start to learn how to control their thoughts and emotions.

You can teach your child many different breathing techniques, but one of the most effective is the 4-7-8 breathing technique. This involves inhaling for four seconds, holding the breath for seven seconds, and then exhaling for eight seconds. This helps to slow down the heart rate and calm the nervous system. Another breathing technique is to imagine that you are blowing up a balloon. Inhale deeply and then exhale slowly, ensuring the balloon doesn’t burst.

8. Use Puppets and Story Telling

When kids are upset, they can use puppets or make up a story to help them calm down. This is a great way for kids to express their feelings without getting angry. You need to ensure that the story has a happy ending, so your child feels better after telling it. If the story ends badly, it will just make your child feel worse and could trigger more anger. You can use any type of puppet, from a simple sock puppet to a more sophisticated one. Just let your child’s imagination run free.

7. Solve A Puzzle

Puzzles are a great way to calm down and focus. They can be as simple as putting together a Lego set or completing a jigsaw puzzle. If your child is feeling overwhelmed, have them take a break to work on a puzzle. It’s a great way to refocus their energy and attention. They can also try Sudoku, crosswords, or other logic puzzles to help them calm down. Always applaud them when they complete and give words of encouragement.

6. Play Negative Emotion Bingo

Bingo is a classic game that can be used to teach kids about a variety of topics, including emotions. When playing Negative Emotion Bingo, each child is given a bingo card with different emotions pictured. As you call out emotions, the kids mark off the ones they hear.

According to Parentswithconfidence, the first person to get five in a row wins. This game is a great way to help kids learn about the different emotions they may feel and how to identify them. It also helps to teach kids that it’s okay to feel all kinds of emotions, even negative ones.

5. Play Stress Freeze Tag

Kids like to make fun of adults for being stressed out all the time, but they don’t realize that sometimes stress can be a good thing. Stress can help you stay alert and focused and give you the energy you need to get through a tough day. But stress can have the opposite effect when it gets out of control. That’s why kids need to learn how to manage their stress in healthy ways. One way to do this is to play a game of stress freeze tag.

To start, explain to your child that they should pretend to be a statue when they feel stressed. Then have them walk around the room and try to tag other players. If someone gets tagged, they must freeze until another player comes over and gives them a hug. The goal is to help everyone relax and feel better. You can also try other variations of this game, such as adding some yoga poses or deep breathing exercises. The important thing is to help your child find a way to release their stress positively.

4. Draw or Paint Your Feelings

For some kids, getting their feelings out by putting them down on paper (or canvas) can be very therapeutic. If your child is the artistic type, encourage him or her to express anger through art. It could be as simple as drawing a picture of what made them mad or a more abstract representation of their feelings. This is a great way to help your child constructively work through anger. When they’re finished, you can hang their artwork up as a reminder that it’s okay to express anger in healthy ways.

3. Meditate with Children

Meditation is a great way to help kids learn how to control their emotions. It can be done anywhere and doesn’t require special equipment. It involves focusing on your breath and letting go of all other thoughts. There are many ways to meditate with kids. One popular way is to have them sit comfortably with their eyes closed. Have them focus on their breath and count each inhales and exhale. If they get distracted, that’s okay. Just have them start over. You can also try guided meditation, where you lead them through visualization.

2. Physical Exercise

Your kids probably get plenty of exercise during recess or PE at school, but getting them to do some physical activity at home can also help with anger management. Exercise can help to release pent-up energy and frustrations, and it can also be a distraction from whatever might be causing your child to feel angry. You need to make them understand that it is okay to be angry, but they need to find healthier outlets for their anger.

1. Build a Feelings vocabulary

This is an important first step in learning to manage anger. Help your child identify different feelings and label them accordingly. This will help them become more aware of their emotions and better equipped to deal with them constructively. According to Verywellfamily, You can provide a feelings chart or write down different emotions and their definitions together. Setting up a competition to see who can come up with the most feelings words is also a fun way to learn.

Conclusion

Anger is part of life, and it’s part of living. It’s important to teach your child that anger is an emotion that can be controlled and channeled into productive activity instead of harmful activity. This way, they won’t get hurt, and everyone can have a happy and healthy life.

These are just a few ways to have helpful, positive, and constructive conversations with your child when angry to learn how to control themselves before something happens and become violent. You don’t want to wait until they are older to have these conversations. You want to be proactive and start early on so that your child understands the different emotions they feel and how to cope with them positively.

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