Worthwhile Anger Management Activities

Tap to Read ➤ Kundan Pandey

Anger is a human's biggest enemy which causes an individual to take poor decisions that he/she may regret later. So, why not control it before it gets too late? Read on to know some simple and effective anger management activities.

"Speak when you are angry - and you'll make the best speech you'll ever regret." ―Dr. Lawrence J. Peter, An educator

Anger is one of the most basic emotions of a human. Each one of us can get angry, irrespective of the age or gender. It is considered to be a primal instinct that has been with us since our evolution.

It has been linked to self-defense, in the sense that when some of our expectations and desires are not fulfilled, we react towards the unfulfilled expectations in the form of anger. To a certain extent, it may even be positive as it triggers a man to take action; however, serious issues of anger can be devastating.

Anger is generally expressed in two forms, verbal and violent. In verbal anger, the person uses threatening words, often using offensive or abusive language that makes the relationships bitter and ruins lives.

The much dangerous part is the violent form of anger, in which the person can get out of control and cause damage to life and property. Don't worry, there is a way out, and that is self-control. Of course, it cannot come to you overnight. It takes time and patience.

Anger Management for Children

Children easily become angry and show violent behavior by breaking anything around them. Parents often ignore these signs of anger which leads to pent up emotions in the hearts and minds of the kids. Children are young, and face difficulty in understanding emotions of anger. Even if one small demand is not fulfilled, they get angry and behave aggressively.

Though it is normal for children to show such a behavior, showcasing it for a long term leads to development of aggressive behavior in their personality. If their anger is not controlled on time, they can grow up to become violent adults. Engage them in anger management activities that will help them calm down. This is what you can do:

Make the children aware about the breathing patterns when anger takes over them. Teach them breathing exercises to better their breath control.

Teach them the physical symptoms of anger like red face, tightening of the body muscles, etc. Children must be made aware to sit and relax in case anger occupies their mind.

Forward and backward counts like 9,8,7,.... or 0,1,2,... must be taught to them. Reward the child for the good works and behavior. Don't accuse or blame the child if he commits a mistake. Teach him to learn from mistakes.

If the child feels stressed due to school work, help him/her completing the work instead of pressurizing him more.

Play sports and games with the children when they are angry. Constructive hobbies for elementary students can include activities, like drawing, painting, sports, and games organized at the school level.

Tips for Students and Adults

Increasing cases of violence and unrest in the youth is a matter of growing concern. Anger management for adults must comprise activities that can help them understand the consequences of anger leading to violence.

Some activities for highschool students that must be made a part of their educational curriculum can be yoga and breathing exercises, sports and games, creative-writing assignments, seminars on anger management, and other cultural activities.

The link between anger and violence must be carefully explained to the students. For middle school students, it can be done through counseling sessions and personality-improvement programs, wherein the child must be taught basics of dealing with anger.

For children in groups, tolerance and team spirit can be developed by including group-based tasks and goals. Working collectively fosters virtue of cooperation and understanding among kids. The important qualities of patience and teamwork are also learned when tasks are performed in groups.

With the love and support of parents and teachers, youth can be taught the effective art of anger management. Incorporating these habits and activities in daily lives will help control anger in an effective way.