Handling your children's anger

Anger in children is a normal emotional reaction to frustration, disappointment, or being treated unjustly. Anger can be a useful emotion as it motivates them to solve issues, make positive changes and achieve their goals. For younger children, anger is often expressed in form of tantrums or other aggressive behaviours. However, as they get older and their cognitive & language skills develop, most children learn to express and manage their anger in a more effective way.


Unfortunately, when a child frequently lose control of their anger, unpleasant consequences may occur for the child (e.g., being rejected by friends), and for his or her loved ones. The child’s healthy functioning may therefore be jeopardised by his/her inability to control negative emotions.

As parents, it is important to help your children to understand their anger and learn helpful strategies to manage and express their anger. Seeking professional help in anger management can also provide you with additional support. In counselling, your children can recognise what anger looks like, what triggers their anger, learn how thoughts influence behaviour, learn every-day and practical strategies to deal with behaviour and thoughts, learn how to communicate their feelings without acting aggressively, and learn relaxation strategies.

It’s never too early to teach your child effective anger management. Book a counselling appointment today. Call Counsel@CrossCulture 9639 3875

Article written by Angela Utomo MAPS, Psychologist