Understanding Anger | TinyTraverse

Join the Emotion Explorers and learn about Anger! Fun activities and tips for kids ages 5-11 to develop emotional intelligence with TinyTraverse.

Have you ever felt your face turn red and steam almost coming out of your ears when someone took your favorite toy? That's Anger! Understanding Anger helps us manage it and learn from it. Welcome to TinyTraverse's Emotion Explorers series - let's discover Anger!

Anger is a strong emotion that can make you feel hot and restless like a bubbling volcano. It can happen when things don't go as you want, or someone upsets you. Even though it feels powerful, Anger is an emotion we can understand and control, just like any other feeling.

Clenching your fists tightly when someone cuts in line during a game.
Feeling your heart beat faster when you are told 'No' to something you really want.
Getting a red face when a sibling takes your toy without asking.
Shouting or arguing with friends when they don't agree with your ideas.
Feeling like you're going to explode and want to yell or cry when you're frustrated.

Did you know that our brain has a little part called the amygdala that warns us when we're angry? It's like an alarm signal going off! When this happens, the brain releases chemicals that make our hearts beat faster and our fists clench. But when we learn about Anger, we train our brain to turn those alarms into calm reactions.

Take deep breaths: When you start feeling angry, pause and take five deep breaths. This helps calm down your body's alarm system.
Count to ten: Before reacting, count slowly to ten. This gives your emotions time to settle.
Use words to express feelings: Saying "I feel angry because..." helps others understand what's upsetting you.
Draw or doodle: Grab some paper and colors. Expressing Anger through art can feel like letting it out.
Exercise: Go for a run or do some jumping jacks! Physical activity is a great way to release built-up Anger.

Anger Volcano: Create a paper volcano and use baking soda and vinegar to watch it 'erupt'. Discuss how Anger can build up and explode, and how we can 'cool down'.
Emotion Charades: Play charades with emotion cards. Practice showing and guessing emotions, especially Anger, without using words. Discuss how we express feelings non-verbally.
Calm Down Jars: Make a glitter jar using a bottle, water, and glitter. Shake it up and watch until the glitter settles, just like waiting for Anger to pass.
Story Circle: Using a storybook about Anger, have a discussion afterward. Encourage children to share how they relate to the story and what they felt during the climax.
Feelings Map: Draw a 'feelings map' where each part of the room represents a different emotion. Walk through 'Anger' and discuss what thoughts and actions lead us in and out.

Once upon a time, in the land of Emotiana, a little boy named Leo felt like a stormy cloud. His brother always took his favorite building blocks. Leo's face would turn red, and he'd stomp his feet in frustration. One day, Leo's friend, Maya, taught him to pause and draw how he feels. As Leo drew his feelings, the stormy cloud in his heart calmed down. His brother saw the drawing and understood Leo's feelings, promising to share. They built amazing block towers together afterward!

Why did Leo get angry in the story?
What did Maya teach Leo to do with his Anger?
How did Leo’s brother react when he saw the drawing?
What can you learn about sharing from Leo’s story?
Can you discuss a time when you felt like a stormy cloud, and what helped you calm down?

undefined: Feeling upset because you cannot achieve or change something. (Example: I felt frustrated when my older sister kept beating me at games.)
undefined: Feeling easily annoyed or angered. (Example: I felt irritable when my little brother kept asking me questions while I was reading.)
undefined: An unexpected release of strong emotions, often anger. (Example: There was an outburst in the classroom when the teacher announced more homework.)
undefined: Intense, uncontrollable anger. (Example: I felt rage when someone broke my favorite toy.)
undefined: A state of being peaceful and without strong emotion. (Example: I felt calm after I took deep breaths and listened to music.)

Model positive emotional expression: Share your emotions appropriately and let your child see healthy ways to express them.
Active listening: Show empathy by listening to children's feelings. Say, "I understand you're angry because..." and validate their feelings.
Create a calm space: Designate a cozy corner where children can go to cool off when they feel overwhelmed by Anger.
Practice mindfulness: Teach children breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques to help manage strong emotions.
Teach problem-solving: Guide children in finding solutions to conflicts that provoke Anger, encouraging them to use negotiation and compromise.

Interactive Quiz

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What is the amygdala's role when we feel angry?

It makes us sleepy

It sends danger signals

It helps us read

It makes us hungry

Anger is a normal emotion, just like happiness or sadness. With the right strategies, we can understand and manage it healthily. Keep exploring emotions through TinyTraverse's Emotion Explorers, and be an expert at understanding all feelings!