Children Who Get Angry All The Time
There are some children who get angry all the time and nothing is needed. It is important that parents learn to provide these children with the care and attention they need.
When children get angry all the time over everything and nothing, it is often a sign of a hidden, underlying problem. Therefore, it is important to offer them special care and attention so that one can help them control these problems. Today, we will take a closer look at this issue.
Anger
Anger is one of the eight emotions that psychologists consider to be the basic ones in human beings. These include joy, confidence, fear, surprise, sadness, participation, disgust and anger. The last feeling occurs when someone is inconsistent with or dissatisfied with a given situation.
When it comes to children, the emotions take the lead and the little ones experience them with great intensity. There is nothing wrong with children feeling angry. However, problems arise when the behavior that anger creates becomes harmful or general.
Children who get angry all the time at everything and nothing
If we take a moment to pay special attention, one can identify the cause of an angry action by the preceding moment. An unexpected response, a need that has not been met, lack of attention or affection, jealousy, etc.… These can all be triggers that can result in an angry reaction in the child.
It is very important to pay special attention to these cases. The reason for this is that continuous anger is not normal. It’s not healthy either. As parents, it is important that we begin a process in which we analyze the child’s personal situation. Whether we do it alone or with a professional, it will help to figure out the aspects that may be triggers for the frustrated reactions.
What can be the reason why children get angry all the time
There are several possible causes for constant feelings of anger:
- A current, stressful situation: The birth of a new sibling, a divorce, the start of a new school year, academic pressure, etc.
- A situation that involves continuous (and many times normalized) physical or mental abuse. These experiences create two forms of response in children: learned helplessness or attack. In the latter case, children externalize the anger that the abuse creates in them. Furthermore, they may come to generalize this response in the face of other situations that they perceive as a threat.
- Situations of abuse or stress that the mother has experienced through her pregnancy or the early years of parenting. These experiences create an emotionally paralyzed reaction in children and an automatic lack of confidence. These children tend to linger in situations they perceive as hostile.
- A family pattern of frustration and anger. Children learn by imitating the examples that surround them. When family role models exhibit angry and frustrated behavior, children learn to do the same. They thereby generalize their reactions when they encounter situations that make them uncomfortable.
- Other factors.
For the well-being of these children, it is extremely important that adults discover the reason behind why they become angry. And, of course, it is crucial that you then act so that you can change the situation.
How to help children who get angry all the time
In order to intervene in these cases, the different environments in the child’s life must work together. This includes, in principle, the child’s family and the child’s school. Both need to work together to coordinate a range of actions and strategies that can accompany the child to solve his or her problems. Below, you can see the primary recommendations.
Recommendations
- To assume a calm and respectful attitude. To show the child, by example, a new, alternative way of responding. Reacting with more anger will only reinforce the child’s anger response.
- To show interest in the child, his or her feelings and his or her interpretation of what is going on. It makes it possible to gain a better understanding of the behavior and can reveal the primary causes behind it. Furthermore, it helps us to know how to effectively help the child.
- Offering the child healthier and more respectful ways of responding, and encouraging him or her to implement them. These include breathing and relaxation techniques, selecting objects they can use to vent their anger, etc. You can also read stories that reprimand this topic.
- To establish and communicate clear boundaries. It’s okay for children to express their anger, but it’s not okay to hurt others or ruin things.
- To strengthen children’s emotional self-awareness. When children are able to respond without becoming angry, it is important to reinforce this behavior. Encourage them to observe how they feel compared to when they feel angry.
- To observe the kinds of situations that create angry reactions and do the best to avoid them. If they do occur, offer the child alternatives that you have agreed upon. Little by little, he or she will internalize new reactions.
- To promote the child’s sense of empathy. In cases where children are venting their anger by harming others, teaching them empathy is crucial. These children need to be able to understand how their anger makes other people feel. For example, you might ask, “How do you think X feels right now?” and “Does it make you feel good when you see him / her that way?”
Conclusion
It is crucial to intervene in cases where children become angry all the time. It is not only crucial when it comes to children’s ability to adapt to their environment… It also provides peace of mind for family members, teachers and classmates. Furthermore, it helps prevent major, long-term problems related to lack of emotional and social adaptability.
The right intervention provides children with healthy resources that help them deal with their emotions. Furthermore, it teaches them to find satisfactory ways to solve any problem they may encounter on their way. When they face frustrations, anger will no longer be the automatic response and their mental health will reap the benefits.
