Back to Advice for parents. Anger is a normal and useful emotion. It can tell children when things are not fair or right. But anger can become a problem if a child's angry behaviour becomes out of control or aggressive.
There are lots of reasons why your child may seem more angry than other children, including:. It may not be obvious to you or your child why they're feeling angry. If that's the case, it's important to help them work out what might be causing their anger. Read talking to your child about feelings. Team up with your child to help them deal with their anger.
This way, you let your child know that the anger is the problem, not them. With younger children, this can be fun and creative. Give anger a name and try drawing it β for example, anger can be a volcano that eventually explodes. How you respond to anger can influence how your child responds to anger. Making it something you tackle together can help you both. Being able to spot the signs of anger early can help your child make more positive decisions about how to handle it.
Talk about what your child feels when they start to get angry. For example, they may notice that:. Work together to try to find out what triggers the anger. Talk about helpful strategies for managing anger. If you see the early signs of anger in your child, say so. This gives them the chance to try their strategies. Staying active can be a way to reduce or stop feelings of anger. It can also be a way to improve feelings of stress, anxiety or depression. For older children or young people, this could be simple activities, such as:.
Read more about physical activity for children and young people. Positive feedback is important. Praise your child's efforts and your own efforts, no matter how small. This will build your child's confidence in their ability to manage their anger. It will also help them feel that you're both learning together.
