Different things can make a child angry. He gets angry if things don't go his way, or, if a friend teases or calls names. At the end of the day, anger could be fueled by exhaustion, hunger, or lack of sleep. Some children are quicker to 'explode' than others. One child may keep her feelings hidden deep within herself and then all it takes is one casual shove or push in the line to make her react.
Anger is a negative yet powerful emotion.
Controlling it is very hard for kindergartners who are entering into a world full of rules, do's and don'ts. Many of them know its important to use their words, but its difficult to think of the right words when your cheeks are turning hot with anger, your blood is pounding, and you can't think straight. This week, we used drama and role-play to hold up a mirror to their feelings. K1 witnessed a session on how to control angry feelings. Third graders Courtney Hammerle, Zain Alimohamed, and Ryan Hicks presented a series of short skits before the students of K1 to offer strategies for anger management.