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Anger Management Techniques for Children With ADHD

Children who suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can have episodes of impulsiveness and outbursts of anger from time to time or even on a regular basis. While compassion should be shown for a child whose medical condition causes him to have difficulty with self-control, there are some strategies that a parent or teacher can implement to help the child manage his anger.

  1. Communication

    • Behavior often functions as a means of communication. For instance, if a child with ADHD is given an instruction and he acts out aggressively as a result, he may be communicating that the task is too difficult. This situation provides an excellent opportunity for a caregiver to teach a more effective way of communicating.

      When your child is calm, try to find out why she did not want to do the task by asking questions such as, "Is it too hard?" If your child says that the task was indeed too difficult, have her practice asking for help in other situations. For instance, give her a difficult puzzle and prompt her to ask for help when she needs it. Every time she asks for help rather than acting out, provide it and reward her with a piece of her favorite candy. This process will increase her desire to communicate.

    Scribble

    • From time to time a child with ADHD may become frustrated and simply need a release for his frustration. This is where a scribble pad can come in handy. Explain to your child that it is OK to feel upset, but it is not OK to behave inappropriately. Offer him a pad of paper and some crayons and tell him that you want him to scribble on the pad as hard as he can whenever he is feeling frustrated. Have him practice scribbling when he is calm and praise him for doing so. Whenever you see him becoming frustrated, offer him the scribble pad and praise him when he uses it.

    Organized Sport

    • A child with ADHD needs a release for her energy. Having her participate in an organized sport is a great way to help her achieve that release while also working on self-control. Make sure she is interested in the activity so that she will be motivated to follow instructions.

      The self-control needed to participate in a sport should improve his ability to control himself in other areas, including anger management.

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