When does anger become a problem?
There are five times
when anger becomes a problem :
- it is expressed for the wrong reason.
- it becomes too intense.
- it lasts too long.
- it leads to aggression.
- it disturbs school, work, or relationships.
Do you have students who get stuck in their anger? Can they identify with one or more of the statements above?
Ask students to give an example of anger for each category.
Create your own examples on cards and ask students to match them with each problem.
How can you resolve the anger once it is identified? Ask students to
come up with ways to stop or prevent getting into a situation that will
cause them to be angry.
I live to use the Jumpin' Monkeys game to show students how they get
themselves stuck in their own problems. They keep doing the same thing
over and over and keep getting the same results. This could be in
relationships, homework, classwork, chores or decisions. Process
through the problem where they are getting stuck using the monkeys you
catapult through the air. If you do not move the catapult, you can not
hit the tree. You must move!
The same is true to teach this example with
Ants in the Pants.
If you keep the ants in the same place and do not move them in order to
hit your target, you will never get there. You have to MOVE the ants to
win! Relate this to everyday life. You have to do something different
to get different results. You don't like a discipline referral, then
what can you change? You get F's for assignments, then what can you do
differently.
Sometimes, I will tape the catapult to the table purposely to show the
student he is stuck. I will ask him to play the game. He might try and
get frustrated. He realizes he has to move or change to hit the
target. This is a valuable hands-on exercise. Finally light-bulbs turn
on! They can take the tape off! They can do something different. If
something is not working, they learn to do something else. Most
students do this naturally when they don't get the results they want.
Some need your help to work through this and learn to do this as a skill
that is taught to them.
Need more ideas on this? Demonstrations and directions are in the
DVDs. Counselor use to ask me to show them with the game or create a
video series. So I did! Games and Play is a set of DVDs to show you
how to do it. It is Creative, Engaging, and FUN.
More on anger management for students.
Anger and Me is a student workbook that is reproducible. Make as many copies as you need.
You can find it on Amazon:
Anger and Me
There are examples of what students do when they express anger in the
wrong ways in the workbook if you would like to use them instead of
coming up with your own. Quizzes are also included in the workbook.
The workbook can be used in individual or small group sessions. They
can be used in classrooms. It is suitable for grades 4 - 12. Adults
have found it useful too! Some businesses in my area have used it for
their employees. I ask parents to read it with their child. Do 2-3
pages a day. Talk about it together. Discuss the examples.
I want to hear from you!
Let me know what you think, your ideas, your thoughts.
Contact me at:
grace @ counselorgames.com
Grace Wilhelm is a National Board Certified Counselor with over sixteen
years experience. She enthusiastically presents to counselors,
teachers, youth workers, and parents on anger, stress, crises
intervention, communication, data, counseling programs, play sessions,
and more.
Grace
will be presenting at the ASCA Conference in Phoenix June 29 and 30.
The session title on Monday is: Play Therapy and Stress Management for
Students. Tuesday she will be contributing in the Data presentation.
Her part will be Parent Involvement.
