4 of the most effective anger management tips to use with your children

Tantrums are embarrassing and difficult to handle, but the reality is that frustration and anger are normal emotions. This guide presents four of the best ways to help your children find a physical release and deal with their anger in order to stop engaging in bad behaviour.

• Exercise is a healthy and effective way to release negative emotions. When your child gets angry, take him or her outside to play.
• Sometimes a breath of fresh air is all a child needs to feel better, but if that doesn't work, encourage your child to get moving.
• Engage him in a game of tag or suggest a ride on the tricycle. Play a high-action game like kickball, tennis, soccer or baseball.
• Soon enough, either the activity will distract him or he'll get tuckered out and forget about the whole thing.

• Even though we associate screaming with an uncontrollable temper tantrum, sometimes children need to yell to vent their feelings.
• You can teach your child to do it in a way that doesn't scare younger siblings or upset the neighbours.
• Have him go into a closed area where his voice won't be heard by everybody, like a bathroom, large closet or the basement, and let him yell at the top of his lungs for a few minutes.

• Think of a physical activity that not only works out the negative feelings, but also makes your child giggle and forget his or her worries.
• Hold a big piece of wrapping paper and tell your child to give it a big karate chop.
• The loud ripping noise is satisfying, and the karate chop action makes kids feel powerful. Or, ask your child to go outside and make funny faces at you through the window.
• Soon, he or she will be laughing and too tired to remember what caused those angry feelings.

• Hurling a toy block tower at a wall doesn't solve anything and could hurt somebody, but teaching your kids safe ways to throw things when they're angry provides them with a way to release their feelings.
• Give your child a ball and let him or her bounce it off a wall of the house, or suggest he or she go outside and throw handfuls of dirt at a tree.
• There will be a big mess, but your child will feel better soon and won't hurt anybody or anything in the process.

Part of a parent's job is to teach children how to deal with strong emotions, and physical activity is a safe, healthy and effective way to do it.