Page 3 - 63826_Spreads

INTRODUCTION
Teaching anger management skills to children is no easy task, but it is possible. When children learn to recognize
“triggers,” or situations that make them mad, they can be taught the skills to control their anger. They can also
be taught to tune into their individual physiological reactions, and to modify these reactions in order to stay calm
and in control. Other methods of anger control, including “I” messages, self-talk, and delay of response, are also
effective in teaching children to manage their anger appropriately.
Many children don’t have the proper language skills to use in getting their angry feelings out. They may know
some of the appropriate words, but they’re not clear on how or when to use them. We have designed The Anger
Solution Scriptbook to give children a forum to enact anger-inciting scenarios in a counseling setting. As they
say the words and practice the skills that are most effective in anger control, they are learning how to handle
volatile situations.
Most of the scripts involve an angry person doing something that incites an angry response from the other
person. This reaction allows children to actually experience how a person’s anger almost always affects others.
They learn that it’s hard to walk away from, or ignore, someone who is angry. Hopefully, they will learn that it’s
almost always better to do so.
Each scenario ends with a resolution of the problem, giving children actual words and tools to use when they
encounter anger in their own lives.
The following themes are explored:
Understanding Anger helps children understand anger as an emotion or feeling. This scenario involves a
girl who gets angry when she is wrongly accused of stealing. With the help of a caring person, she learns
that it’s okay to get angry, that people sometimes make mistakes, and that something good can often
evolve from an angry situation.
Anger Awareness focuses on helping children be cognizant of their angry feelings. This script centers on
two sisters who are taking a train to visit their grandmother. They become separated in the busy station
and end up scared and angry at each other. They learn to acknowledge their anger, talk about why they are
angry, and identify other feelings that anger can lead to.