A Prayer for Children: Handling Anger

Learning to Respond, Not React

Anger is a very basic and natural human emotion. I think sometimes we forget this when we’re faced with an angry person or when we ourselves become angry in a situation. Often, when a child is angry, their frustration and annoyance can spill over into sharp words or hostile actions. They become quick to overreact and may impulsively do things they later regret.

Sometimes a child’s anger may stem from feeling wronged in some way or not having control in situations that matter to them. Sometimes they become angry because they are passionate about things being fair. Our children may become irate when they witness injustice, especially when it affects people they know or care deeply about.

Sadly, sometimes unresolved and suppressed anger can leave a trail of guilt and remorse and even drive our children into depression.

The path to handling anger begins with self-awareness. We can teach our children to notice physical cues, like a racing heart or clenched fists, when they are in the heat of the moment. Let them know that it’s their body’s way of sounding an alarm. When these signals appear, teach them to pause for a moment to acknowledge the anger that is surfacing. These are all cues for them to prepare themselves to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively. During this pause, they can take time to breathe deeply, pray, and repeat their affirmations.

We can teach them to express their feelings calmly and clearly, explaining why they are feeling tension or hurt. This constructive dialogue promotes understanding and empathy and prevents escalation.

Understanding the deeper cause of their anger can be helpful. Often, anger is just the tip of the iceberg, with much more lying beneath the surface. By identifying the root cause, we can address the real issue with them, which leads to more effective and lasting solutions.

Most important, we must remember that the path to handling anger is about gradual change, where each step forward is a victory that should be rewarded. As we continuously acknowledge our Christ presence within, divine wisdom gives us the strength to rise above any challenge.

A Prayer for Handling Anger in All Children

Centered and immersed in God, I use the visioning power of my mind to see all children everywhere calm and at peace. I see them all filled with patience and wisdom as they learn to navigate through the things they cannot change or control. With their divine wisdom, their anger and frustration are now transformed into understanding and acceptance. Their hurt feelings are transformed into healing, and all is made well.

A Shared Family Prayer for Handling Anger

In this quiet moment, we relax and focus on our next breath in. With this inhale, we center ourselves in the presence of the divinity within us. With our next exhale, we release any feelings of resentment that have welled up inside. Together, we embrace forgiveness, both for ourselves and for others. We now find peace in the Presence and spread that peace to those around us.