Instant meltdowns and getting aggressive are common traits among kids as they don’t know how to handle their frustration or communicate their feelings. However, understanding why kids are lashing out can help parents deal with the issue effectively. So, here are five ways for parents to help their child deal with anger issues.
1. Keep Yourself Calm and Composed When Kids Are Angry
Anger is one of the natural emotions for a child to express their needs, wants and unhappiness about certain things. And it’s quite natural for parents to get irritated at times while figuring out the reason behind their kid’s sudden outburst.
But here is the thing, if you yell at them or get angry at their behavior, it will make the kids even more aggressive. The longer you yell, the longer will their outburst continue. Always keep in mind that the kids haven’t yet mastered the art of problem-solving without getting upset. So, take a few deep breaths, calm yourself, control your raging emotions and try to understand your child’s needs first. This is a stepping stone to help your child deal with anger issues.
2. Teach Your Kids How to Calm Down As Well
No matter how hard they cry their heart out, do not give in. This will only encourage kids to continue with such behavior every time their demands are not met.
Instead, teach the kids how to calm down when they feel overwhelmed. Ask them to count to 10, go for a walk, clench and unclench their fists to relieve tension, or simply walk away from the situation.
You can even hold their hand, breathe in sync and tell them to calm down so that you can understand their problem and together you both can find out the solution. You can even use positive images such as pictures of their smiling faces or videos of happy and fun times with family, to divert their attention.
3. Teach Kids How to Communicate their Emotions
During their good time, teach your child how to use words to convey their emotions and frustrations instead of showing aggressive behavior. Teach them words like happy, patient, angry, sad, frustrated, and more with the help of picture cards and help them link it with their emotions.
And do not forget to appreciate every little effort of your child when they try to communicate their emotions without throwing tantrums. This will help in building your child’s confidence in managing their anger.
4. Do Not Expose Kids to Violent Media
It is always advisable not to expose kids to violent shows or video games as it may exacerbate their anger issues. Instead, divert them to problem-solving games, books or shows that can have a positive impact on their behavior.
5. Do Not Delay in Seeking Help if Anger Issue Escalates
Occasional meltdowns are absolutely normal in kids, but if the aggressive behavior persists for long, seek professional help immediately without hesitation to understand the accurate reason behind the kid’s aggressive behaviour and help your child accordingly.
Calming an aggressive kid takes time and patience along with a few tricks and techniques. Just don’t give up. Your efforts will definately pay off.
You can also read How Conscious Discipline Can Help You Be a Better Mom
