What if you could read your children a story incorporating effective psychological methods to help them learn to manage anger?
Many parents worry about young children behaving aggressively when they feel upset. Much of this is normal for youngsters.
Nevertheless, these issues do need to be addressed.
Psychological anger management techniques include:
* 'Breathing out' the anger with slow, deep breaths.
* Counting to ten slowly, to give angry feelings some time to subside.
* Moving away from the problem situation until you feel calmer.
* Squeezing or pummelling a soft, inanimate object such as a cushion, which cannot be hurt and which cannot hurt you.
* Engaging in vigorous physical activities such as running, cycling, dancing or even housework, as an outlet for pent-up feelings.
* Lying down and listening to relaxing music, or sleeping.
* When you feel calmer, talking about your feelings with someone you trust.
This story also harnesses the mnemonic power of visual association and simple rhyming verse to make learning fun and the techniques easier to remember.
Just as children respond to Cecilia Egan's sleep-inducing story 'The Kitten Who Learns to Fall Asleep," so they can learn to be the boss of their temper while listening to this tale.
