The last post in this mini anger management class for children was focused on teaching your child empathy through helping them to understand that there is a cause and effect for their actions; specifically that if they do something hurtful to someone they will experience a consequence themselves. Today’s post in this anger management class will focus on teaching children to experience compassion for others through talking with them and once again modeling appropriate behavior.
When teaching this anger management skill to your child its important to understand that depending on their age, temperament and the particular situation children of any age can be incredibly compassionate or seemingly oblivious to the feelings of others (as can many adults!). Younger kids, those under the age of 5, will sometimes have very little compassion for another if they feel that something that they want at that moment is being taken from them. Compassion is part innate and part learned so the more you can model compassion for your child the more you are able to capitalize on expanding that innate compassion.
You can teach your child this important anger management skill by openly discussing situations in which you feel compassion for another person as they occur. Let your kids know how you feel about it, and what you wish you could do to make it better for the person affected. And, if you can do something to make it better for them, do it. This shows your child that not only are you empathetic, but your compassion drives you to help others in need. You are the strongest role model for your kids; if you demonstrate compassion, especially when they are at a very young age it makes it very likely that they will internalize it and it will become a natural part of their anger management personality type.
12 video lessons
