Anger is a normal and natural emotion that everyone experiences—including children. However, unlike adults, kids often lack the skills to express anger in healthy ways. When children become angry, they may throw tantrums, yell, or even act aggressively because they don’t yet know how to manage big feelings.
As parents, teachers, or caregivers, our job isn’t to eliminate anger but to help children understand and control it. Through fun, engaging, and thoughtful anger activities, kids can learn how to calm down quickly, express their feelings safely, and build lifelong emotional intelligence.
In this guide from The Kids Point, we’ll explore effective anger activities for kids that can help them regulate emotions, improve behavior, and feel calmer in stressful moments.
Why It’s Important to Teach Kids About Anger
Before diving into activities, it’s important to understand why helping kids manage anger matters.
Anger itself isn’t bad—it’s an emotion that signals when something feels unfair, hurtful, or frustrating. But when left unchecked, anger can turn into aggression, anxiety, or poor relationships.
Teaching children to manage anger helps them:
- Develop self-control and patience.
- Recognize triggers and respond thoughtfully instead of impulsively.
- Communicate emotions in a healthy way.
- Improve relationships with friends, siblings, and adults.
- Build confidence in handling tough situations calmly.
By introducing anger management activities early, kids can grow up emotionally resilient and equipped to handle life’s challenges.
Deep Breathing Exercises for Quick Calm
Breathing techniques are among the most effective and easiest tools for calming anger. When kids are angry, their heart rate and stress levels increase—deep breathing helps reset their body and brain.
How to Teach It:
- Ask your child to take a deep breath in through their nose for four seconds.
- Hold it for two seconds.
- Slowly exhale through their mouth for four seconds.
- Repeat 5–6 times until they feel calmer.
Fun Variations:
- Smell the Flower, Blow the Candle: Pretend to smell a flower (inhale) and blow out a candle (exhale).
- Bubble Breathing: Blow bubbles gently—if they blow too hard, the bubble pops. This teaches control and calmness.
Anger Thermometer Chart
Kids often struggle to identify how angry they are. An anger thermometer helps them visualize their emotions and recognize when they need to calm down.
How It Works:
Draw a thermometer numbered 1–10:
- 1–3: Calm or slightly annoyed
- 4–6: Frustrated or upset
- 7–10: Very angry or about to lose control
Ask your child to point to the number that matches how they feel. Then, discuss what helps them cool down before the number gets too high.
This tool teaches emotional awareness and helps kids act before anger takes over.
Calm-Down Corner or Space
A calm-down corner is a designated safe spot where kids can retreat when they feel overwhelmed. Instead of punishment, it’s a place for emotional regulation.
What to Include:
- Soft pillows or bean bags
- Fidget toys or stress balls
- Books about emotions
- Noise-canceling headphones
- Coloring pages or crayons
- A small timer (to help them return when ready)
Encourage your child to visit this space when they feel upset. Over time, they’ll learn to self-regulate without being told.
Movement and Physical Activities
Anger builds up physical energy. Allowing kids to release that energy safely helps them calm down faster.
Try These Activities:
- Jumping jacks or dancing for 5 minutes.
- Running or biking outside.
- Punching a pillow or hitting a soft ball.
- Doing yoga stretches (like “tree pose” or “child’s pose”).
Bonus Tip:
Create a “Move It Out” jar—fill it with activity cards like jump 10 times, dance to a song, or walk around the block. When your child feels mad, they can pick a card and do the activity.
Expressing Feelings Through Art
Art helps kids release emotions they can’t yet put into words. It’s a powerful, creative outlet for anger.
Ideas to Try:
- Draw your feelings: Ask your child to draw what their anger looks like (a storm, fire, monster, etc.).
- Paint with watercolors: The soothing process of mixing colors promotes calm.
- Clay or playdough modeling: Squeezing and shaping clay can reduce tension.
Afterward, talk about their artwork—this opens up conversations about emotions and solutions.
Journaling or Drawing About Emotions
Older kids may prefer writing or journaling to manage anger. It helps them organize thoughts and reflect on experiences.
Prompts to Use:
- “I feel angry when…”
- “When I’m mad, I can calm down by…”
- “One thing that made me upset today was…”
For younger kids, use emotional faces (happy, sad, mad, calm) and let them circle how they feel each day. Over time, journaling builds emotional vocabulary and awareness.
Mindfulness and Visualization Activities
Mindfulness teaches children to focus on the present moment rather than react to emotions immediately.
Simple Practices:
- Calm Cloud Visualization: Ask your child to imagine floating on a soft cloud, breathing deeply, and watching their anger drift away.
- Listen to Sounds: Have them close their eyes and name 3–5 sounds they hear.
- Guided Meditation for Kids: Play a short mindfulness video or recording (many are available online).
These activities help slow racing thoughts and bring a sense of peace.
Storytelling and Role-Play
Children learn best through stories. Reading about or acting out scenarios involving anger teaches them empathy and problem-solving.
Activities to Try:
- Read Books About Anger: Titles like When Sophie Gets Angry—Really, Really Angry or Anh’s Anger help kids understand emotions.
- Role-Play Calm Solutions: Act out a situation where someone gets angry and show different responses (yelling vs. deep breathing).
Through stories, children learn that anger is normal—and that they have choices in how to handle it.
Sensory Activities to Reduce Stress
Engaging the senses helps kids feel grounded and calm.
Soothing Sensory Ideas:
- Play with kinetic sand or slime.
- Take a warm bath.
- Listen to soft music or nature sounds.
- Smell calming scents like lavender or chamomile.
Sensory play isn’t just fun—it reduces stress hormones and promotes relaxation.
Positive Self-Talk and Affirmations
Teach your child that thoughts influence feelings. When they think positive thoughts, they can feel more in control of their emotions.
Examples of Calming Affirmations:
- “I am calm and in control.”
- “I can take deep breaths to feel better.”
- “I can handle this.”
- “Anger doesn’t control me.”
Encourage them to say or write these daily. Repetition builds a confident, resilient mindset.
Create an “Anger Toolbox”
An anger toolbox is a personalized kit filled with items that help your child calm down.
Ideas to Include:
- A small stuffed toy
- Stress ball or fidget spinner
- Picture of a loved one
- Breathing cards or calm-down cues
- Favorite book or snack
Let your child help create it—it gives them a sense of ownership and empowerment over their emotions.
Use Music to Calm the Mind
Music has a strong emotional effect. Calming songs or nature sounds can help kids settle down quickly.
Suggestions:
- Create a “Calm Down Playlist” with gentle tunes or instrumental music.
- For younger children, sing soothing lullabies or rhythm games.
- Use drum beats or hand tapping to express anger rhythmically and safely.
Teach Problem-Solving Skills
Sometimes anger arises because a child doesn’t know how to fix a problem. Teaching problem-solving empowers them to manage frustration.
Steps to Teach:
- Identify the problem. (“My friend took my toy.”)
- Brainstorm solutions. (“Ask for it back,” “Play with something else.”)
- Try a solution.
- Reflect on what worked.
Over time, this builds emotional maturity and reduces angry outbursts.
Encourage Talking and Listening
A supportive conversation can make all the difference. Encourage your child to talk about what made them angry without judgment.
Ask open-ended questions:
- “What happened that upset you?”
- “How did that make you feel?”
- “What can we do to make it better next time?”
Listening calmly shows kids that their feelings are valid and that expressing anger in words—not actions—is the best way forward.
Model Calm Behavior
Children learn by watching adults. If they see you reacting with patience and calmness, they’ll mirror that behavior.
Tips for Parents and Teachers:
- Stay calm even when your child yells.
- Use a soft voice and deep breaths.
- Show how you calm down after getting frustrated.
- Praise your child when they manage their anger appropriately.
We believe the best lessons for emotional control come from what children see—not just what they’re told.
Group Activities and Games
Games can make learning anger management fun and interactive.
Ideas:
- Feelings Charades: Act out emotions for others to guess.
- Emotion Cards Match: Match facial expressions with emotion words.
- The Calm Game: Sit quietly and see who can stay calm longest.
These playful methods teach self-regulation in a supportive, enjoyable way.
Reward Calm Behavior
Positive reinforcement motivates kids to keep practicing good behavior.
You can use a calmness chart or reward jar where your child earns stickers or small prizes for handling anger well.
Rewards could include extra playtime, a favorite snack, or choosing a family activity.
This reinforces that calmness brings positive outcomes, while angry outbursts don’t.
FAQs About Helping Kids Manage Anger
What causes anger in kids?
Anger in children can come from frustration, unmet needs, tiredness, hunger, or feeling misunderstood. Sometimes it’s triggered by stress or sensory overload.
How can I calm my child quickly when they’re angry?
Try deep breathing, distraction, or offering a calm space. Stay calm yourself and help your child label their emotions.
Should I punish my child for angry behavior?
Instead of punishment, focus on teaching. Help them understand what went wrong and show better ways to express emotions.
How long does it take for kids to learn anger control?
It varies. With patience, consistent practice, and supportive activities, most kids show improvement within weeks.
Wrapping Up: Building Calm and Confidence Together
Anger is a natural emotion, but managing it is a learned skill. With the right tools, patience, and encouragement, children can learn to recognize their emotions, calm themselves, and respond thoughtfully.
At The Kids Point, we believe emotional education is just as vital as academic learning. By practicing these helpful anger activities for kids, parents and teachers can nurture emotionally strong, kind, and self-aware children who grow up ready to handle life’s challenges with confidence and compassion.