Anger outbursts and tantrums can be a normal aspect of child development. We have all witnessed a child dropping to the floor yelling and refusing to budge when they don't get their own way. It is also easy to think of a time when a teenager has slammed their door and hid away in their bedroom. Everyone gets angry, including adults, but it is important to learn how to manage and express anger in appropriate ways. Child Psychologists can help with teaching your child to develop their emotional intelligence and coping skills.
Some ways you can help your child with everyday anger include: Labelling Emotions Talk about feelings with your children. Let them know you understand how they are feeling and label your own emotions. e.g. "Oh no, I can't remember where I left my keys. How frustrating". When children hear emotional language they learn how to use it themselves. The more we use language to label how we feel the less we act out our anger with aggression. Reflect your child's feelings so they know that you are in tune with their needs. e.g. "I can see that you are angry because you have your fists clenched and you are gritting your teeth". This can allow your child to know that they are being heard and can de-escalate situations. This allows for appropriate consequences and follow-up to take place without things getting out of hand. Modelling Coping You can let your children know how to cope by showing them. When you have a problem that is appropriate to let your children know about verbalise and demonstrate your positive coping strategies. This can include positive self-talk. e.g. "I feel pretty tired after a big week at work. I'm going to give my friend a call and then go for a swim. That will make me feel better". Children are like sponges and will mimic your coping habits. Identifying Calming Strategies Find time to set aside to sit down and talk with your child about their anger. Create a positive opportunity to identify appropriate things they can do when they are upset. Make sure you find a time when you can discuss without rushing. Explore what your child notices in their body when they are angry and the types of things that upset them. Make a visual list of choices they can make if they are angry. Children respond very well to rules and expectations which are explained ahead of time. Some coping strategies could include 'talking to someone', 'having some quiet time', 'relaxation exercises' or 'doing some physical activity'. Role Playing Difficult Situations Common situations where difficulties arise can be role-played. Recurring situations can often include resolving conflict with siblings, coping with losing and learning to share. Take time to act out these situations with your child and their siblings. Children learn by doing, so take time to play and pretend a situation is happening. Get involved and make the conflict resolution role-play fun. Demonstrate what they should and should not do and then get them involved in the play acting. Acknowledging Positive Coping Praise your child when they demonstrate appropriate expressions of emotions and when they use their words. e.g. "I'm so proud of you. It was sad that you didn't win but you were a good sport by congratulating the other team". In some instances a child may be struggling with severe anger which may benefit from professional help. Seeking support from a Child Psychologist and Adolescent Psychologist can provide you and your family with the guidance you need. Contact us at www.oraclepsychology.com.au if you need our help. #ChildPsychologist #Psychologist #Anger #Newcastle #NewcastleNSW Many people misunderstand Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and confuse what this means for a child. Just like a puppy exploring the world for the first time, all children can be excitable, curious and impulsive. They can get themselves into trouble by activing before they think. When this happens occasionally it can be considered a normal part of child development. However if a child is consistently getting themselves into trouble for excessive levels of energy and not stopping to consider the consequences it may be time to seek a professional opinion from a Child Psychologist.
Although the name ADHD would suggest concentration is the primary concern in such children, impulsivity is actually the hallmark feature of this condition. These individuals can often get themselves into mischief even before they realise what has happened. Their thoughts and ideas can come so rapidly that they are overwhelmed and distracted. They struggle with impulse control to block out distractions which leads to inattention in the classroom. If we imagine that everyone has a 'stop sign' in their mind which helps them to think before acting we can begin to understand what it can be like for children with ADHD. For example, if you are driving in your car and get cut off in traffic you may automatically have an urge to react in a "not so civil way". But your 'stop sign' in your mind comes up and tells you to calm down. Everyone has something like this 'stop sign', even children with ADHD. However children with this condition have a slower 'stop sign' than everyone else. By the time their 'stop sign' tells them to stop they have already gone ahead with their urge and landed themselves in a huge mess. At that stage they can then feel quite remorseful and guilty regarding their actions. This can lead to self-esteem issues later in life. It is important to remember that ADHD is a neurological condition which means such children are wired to respond differently to other individuals. They are often oversensitive to rewards and very resistant to consequence or punishment. This means that they can be very motivated to earn incentives but not respond much to losing privileges. They can be quite eager to please and do the right thing but their automatic urges take over before their 'stop sign' can help them out. This means children with ADHD need to be managed in different ways to the average child and this is where Psychologists can help. Of course, when considering if a child has a diagnosis such as ADHD a thorough assessment is always important. There is a lot of controversy regarding the over-diagnosis of this condition. Other disorders such as Dyslexia or anxiety can mimic some of the symptoms of ADHD so we need to make sure the correct needs are identified. It's important to remember that those who genuinely have ADHD can struggle on a day to day basis and can benefit from the help of professionals. A comprehensive diagnosis of ADHD by a Child Psychologist can include an intellectual assessment, observations, clinical interview and neuropsychological assessment. If you are interested in information regarding a comprehensive assessment by a Child Psychologist please call us on 02 4929 2223 and we would be happy to help. |
AuthorChild Psychologist Daniel Wendt is the Principal Clinical Psychologist of Oracle Psychology in Newcastle, NSW. Archives
August 2023
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