Helping Children Deal with Anger and Frustration

Does your child frequently become angry or frustrated? Here are a few tips to help children deal with anger and frustration.Anger or frustration could be due to several reasons. They are two of the main reasons why kids these days see a mental health professional. Anger and frustrations are nothing but emotions and you can certainly help your child deal with them. Following are a few ways to help children deal with these two issues. In this articleAvoid Exposure to Violent MediaAnger Management TechniquesEncourage Problem Solving SkillsConsequences Have to Be MetStep AwayGive Your Child Some Time AloneAvoid Exposure to Violent MediaChildren who always exposed to violence in the media such as TV shows, etc will learn and copy the same. If your child is prone to anger outbursts then exposing him or her to violence on television will not help one bit. Instead watch shows which teach healthy ways to battle conflict. Playing violent video games or being exposed to violence and horror in media at an early age can lead to behavioural problems.Anger Management TechniquesTeach your child simple anger management techniques such as relaxing or taking a deep breath. Help them to improve their communication skills by verbally expressing whatever they want instead of getting angry or frustrated. Teach your child that anger is okay once in a while however aggression would not be accepted. Aggression can lead to hitting or physically hurting others. Help your child to focus on the positive side of things instead of becoming frustrated.Encourage Problem Solving SkillsEncourage problem solving and conflict resolution skills in your toddler or child. Suppose your child is upset that the teacher did not give him a good grade, help your child understand the reason. What could be the reason for not scoring well? Encourage your child to study harder next time instead of getting frustrated. Teach him to work on the weaknesses and score a better grade by trying again.Consequences Have to Be MetIf children get angry and use bad words or say something disrespectful, then they will have to deal with the consequences. You will have to punish them and let them know that their behaviour would not be tolerated. Try to look at the situation from your child’s point of view. Is the anger justified? As a parent you too should calm down and discipline them in a positive manner.Step AwayAt times, you will have to step away and learn to ignore your child. Sometimes their frustration could lead to a temper tantrum which means they are persuading you to buy what they want through unreasonable ways. Firmly let them know that you are not going to do as they please. Do not put them in difficult situations. Sometimes they may not be comfortable doing something hence try to avoid those things. Do not force them or pressurize them if they are not able to do something. Step away by reading the signs.Give Your Child Some Time AloneYou will not always be there to help them deal with various issues hence teach your kids to get out of anger mode alone. They have to work through their feelings and learn to properly manage their emotions. Exercise helps and so does taking time out to analyze the situation. Ensure that your child is not hurting others when he or she does not have their way. Some children pinch others and behave violently when they get angry. They may even hurt pets or damage property. He or she will have to learn to manage these impulses at the moment.Thus, you can see that your child will have to learn to calm down if he or she is prone to angry outbursts. When nothing works, just teach them to say a short prayer and move on. Find out if your child is unhappy due to some reason. Could it be that your child is being bullied? Sometimes children are treated badly in child care centres where the Ayah or lady looking after the child in your absence is doing wrong. It could be due to some reason which you may never know about. Place only well-mannered and trusted people to look after kids in your absence or when you go to work. Help your child see the world through a different perspective. Be a good role model who only wishes the best for others. Seeing an ideal parent, will help your child to be happy as well!What are the causes of anger and frustration in children? How to help children deal with anger and frustration? How can anger and frustration affect the development of children? Discuss here.