Many children have difficulties in expressing their emotions. Dealing with child anger is certainly frustrating for many parents, as they don’t always know how to handle it. Parents need to know how to recognize when their children have anger problems, and take the proper steps to deal with these issues. Some of the signs to look for include.
1. Frequent Temper Tantrums
This is indicative of a child who is angry and always on edge.
2. Disagreeability
Children older than two years of age should be flexible. If they are disagreeable a lot, there may be some psychological issues to deal with.
3. Lack of Problem-Solving Skills
They are unable to solve problems, which leads to frustration, which results in anger outbursts.
4. Hitting
When children are aggressive and hit others beyond the age of five, it is a sign that they have anger issues. These issues have to be addressed; otherwise, these children will likely become bullies.
5. Lack of Friends
Children with anger issues have problems making and keeping friends, and tend to alienate others.
6. Revenge-Oriented
Many children who have problems with anger tend to always want to get even with someone.
7. Self-Destructive Behavior
Anger issues can lead to children threatening to hurt themselves, and in many cases, following through with those threats.
8. Property Damage
Anger can lead children to lash out, resulting in the destruction of things around them.
9. Words of Hatred
Often, anger issues cause children to express hate (verbal and physical) towards friends and relatives.
10. Hurting Those Who Are Weaker
When children are angry or feel picked on, they tend to lash out against those who are weaker than themselves, including smaller children and animals.
While anger issues are a sign of emotional immaturity, anger overload could be a sign of mental health issues. If your children show the signs of anger overload, you should contact child psychologist or therapist to assess the situation. There are ways for parents to effectively deal with children who have anger issues. It is important for parents to let their children know that it is okay to feel angry, and to express their anger. Here are some things parents can do to help their children deal with their emotions:
Show them you care. If a child is angry, talk to them about it. Don’t just send them to their room to think about their problems and actions. Let them know that you care about their feelings, and stay with them for as long as they need you.
Acknowledge the problem. When your child is angry or upset, ask them why. Tell them that you understand their feelings, and if you know what the problem is.
Don’t lose your temper. The worst thing you can do when a child is angry is to get angry yourself. Show them how you can act calmly when angered, and set an example for them. Losing your temper is just going to add fuel to the fire.
Setting limits. Children need to know that they can show their anger, but there need to be limits on how much they show. For instance, they can cry, yell, or be silent, but they should not be allowed to get away with violence. Let your child know that you understand their anger, and help them find other ways to vent it.
Use anger management techniques. When a child feels an urge to hit something, give them a pillow or a stuffed toy that they can’t hurt. Tell them to stomp their feet, or draw or write down their feelings. Teach them about relaxation breathing, and other forms of stress relief.
Help children know the warning signs. When a child is about to lose their temper, there are warning signs. Parents will recognize these signs, and can make their children aware of them as well.
Help children understand their feelings. The more children understand why they feel the way they do, the easier it is for them to control their anger. Encourage your children to learn how to express their feelings in a constructive manner.
Featured photo credit: greg westfall via flickr.com
