Does your child have anger management issues? The truth is, anger is not the issue; it’s the way your child chooses to express it. Anger is a normal emotion that many kids and teens have difficulty expressing appropriately. There may also be other factors that make managing anger more difficult for some kids, such as a diagnosis, or aspects of typical childhood development like low frustration tolerance or poor impulse control. As a parent, you'll be more effective if you focus on teaching your child the skills to process anger appropriately rather than trying to make your child feel a certain way. Addressing anger should include choosing a calm time to discuss what your child can do differently the next time they feel angry. In the articles below, you'll find more information and techniques to effectively address the issues of anger.
If you’re a parent, it is a certainty that you have had to deal with an angry child. Often, we end up in shouting matches with our kids, or we freeze up, not knowing what to do when an angry outburst occurs. Anger is a normal emotion in kids and adults alike. But how we... Read more »
Stop and think for a moment: when your child or teen is in the throes of a tantrum or an all-out rage, what is your initial reaction? Do you get angry yourself and start yelling, do you freeze and say nothing, or do you become frightened and give in? Maybe your answer is even, “All... Read more »
When your teen is angry and screaming at you, the temptation for many of us is to fight back and scream louder so you “win” the argument. But what does that do? It's natural to want to push back or stand up for yourself if someone pushes your buttons or provokes you in some way.... Read more »
Everyone gets angry at times—children and adults alike. Anger is an emotion that can range from slightly irritated, to moderately angry, to full-blown rage. And it can happen quickly. A child's anger naturally makes us feel uncomfortable. As a result, we may try to appease our children, give in to their demands, or avoid certain situations... Read more »
Screaming fights. Destructive behavior. Volatile moods. Do your child's anger and rage make you feel exhausted and out of control? In an Empowering Parents poll, Angie S. made the following comment: "I walk on eggshells around my 15-year-old son. It's embarrassing to admit, but I'm afraid of his explosive temper." In that same poll, more than... Read more »
Have you found yourself asking the question, “Why is my child always so angry at me?” Do you feel like your adolescent surrounds himself or herself with a force field of anger and hostility? In this article, James Lehman, creator of The Total Transformation® child behavior program, discusses anger, hostility, and your child. Understanding Anger and... Read more »
Have your child's angry outbursts worn you down so much that you've simply learned to give in? You should know that this is not a phase or a behavior that will go away. Anger is a fact of life. Everyone gets angry, including kids—they get frustrated and disappointed just like adults. The goal for children as... Read more »
Many parents want to know how to manage anger in their children. Maybe your child acts out and is belligerent, and you’re at a loss to help him control those feelings. Not only is it upsetting to see, it impacts the entire family. But here’s the truth: Whenever we want to manage someone else’s feelings, particularly... Read more »
Many parents make the mistake of assuming that since their child’s behavior is connected to their feelings, fixing the feelings will fix the behavior. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. It’s critical for parents to understand that processing your child’s feelings while they are happening is not constructive. Children become overwhelmed with emotions, and... Read more »
Even as adults, managing our anger can be hard, and we’ve had years of practice. For our children, who are just learning about their emotions, keeping their anger in check can be especially difficult. Kids can easily lash out at people who make them angry or situations that frustrate them: name-calling when they lose a... Read more »
