Avoid Angry Outbursts! Teach Kids to Recognize and Manage Anger

How often have you had to discipline a student in your class for “lashing out” at another student because they have not been able to control their angry feelings? I’m guessing it’s a fairly common occurrence in schools all around the world!

In order to manage anger appropriately, children must be able to recognize when they are angry. Only then can they take the necessary steps to deal with their angry feelings in a socially acceptable manner.

So… what is anger? To put it simply, anger is a feeling we experience when we think that something is wrong, hard, or unfair.

Anger can affect our bodies. It can make us feel “fired up.” Our hearts beat faster, we might feel hot and sweaty, and we might feel tense. 

Anger can affect our actions. If we don’t manage our anger properly, it can cause us to “lash out” at people in an inappropriate way.

Anger can affect our thoughts. Our brains can fill up with negative ideas about the situation. All other thoughts are blocked out.

Suggested Strategies Kids Can Use to Manage Angry Feelings

The good news is that there are strategies our students can use to manage angry feelings when they arise. These strategies can help break the cycle of negative thoughts, decrease the physical effects of anger on our bodies and, most importantly, avoid those awful angry outbursts!

Some of these strategies include:

• Stopping and counting to 10
• Doing a calming activity
• Talking about what created the anger
• Doing some exercise

How to Make the Most of Your Managing Anger Poster

A team of dedicated teachers has created this poster to support social-emotional learning in your classroom. You may wish to use it in the following ways:

1. Print the color version of the poster on tabloid paper and display it in your classroom as a reminder of what anger is and how it can be managed.
2. Print the black and white version of the poster on letter paper and provide to students as a coloring activity.
3. Use the poster as a stimulus for a group discussion. Ask the students to explore what situations might make them angry and what they might do to manage these feelings.

Before You Download

This resource prints as a PDF. Please use the dropdown menu to choose from the full-color and black-and-white versions.

Looking for more great resources to support your students’ social-emotional learning? We have you covered!