When Anger Visits: A Parent’s Guide to Calming Big Emotions

This article has been researched and written by Hacer Subasi. AI has not been used in producing this article.

Anger is a natural and necessary emotion—but for children, it can feel overwhelming and hard to express. This short guide is written for you, dear parents, with simple language and playful strategies you can read with your child or to your child. The goal is to help them recognise their emotions, feel understood, and discover safe and creative ways to express what’s going on inside.

Did you know? Sometimes, out of nowhere, a big feeling might come and knock on the door of your heart. One of those big feelings could be anger. And guess what? That is okay. If there are people around you who ignore you, move away from you, or even punish you when you are angry, maybe you can gently let them know that ‘anger is a natural emotion’. It is something all of us feel sometimes.

The first thing to remember is: It is totally okay to feel angry. There’s nothing wrong with it—it is just your heart’s way of saying something important.

The second thing is this: When anger knocks on your heart’s door, you can be kind and invite it in. That is very caring and welcoming thing to do. Otherwise, you might feel so mad your face gets hot, your fists clench, or your tummy feels funny. But what matters is what you do with that anger. Here are some fun and helpful ways to calm down when you feel like a volcano ready to erupt!

1. Cookie Breathing (Inspired by Liana Lowenstein)

Imagine you’re holding your favourite warm, yummy cookie. First, take a deep breath in to smell the cookie (sniff in through your nose)… now blow on it to cool it down (slowly blow out through your mouth). Try it three times. Doesn’t that feel nice?

2. Draw It Out

Grab your crayons or markers and draw what your anger feels like. Maybe it’s a red tornado or a spiky ball! Putting your feelings on paper helps them come out safely.

3. Chill-Out Spot

Create your own “calm-down corner” with soft pillows, toys, or a fidget toy. When you’re angry, you can go there to feel safe and cool off.

4. Use Your Words

Try saying, “I feel angry because…” or “I don’t like when…” Talking about your feelings helps grownups understand you better.

5. Try a Feelings Thermometer

Think of your feelings like a thermometer. Are you just a little warm (a bit annoyed)? Or boiling hot (super angry)? Noticing your feelings helps you stop before you explode!

6. Be Like a Turtle

When you feel super mad, pull back like a turtle! Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and wait before you act. Then, come out slowly when you feel calmer.

7. Ask for a Hug

Sometimes, just a hug from someone who loves you can make the angry feeling melt away—like ice cream in the sun.

Whether you’re looking for a bedtime conversation starter or a tool during tough moments, these gentle tips will guide you
and your little one toward calmer, more connected experiences.

Hacer Subasi

Clinical Psychologist

Hacer Subasi is a CDA-licensed clinical psychologist at ClearMinds Center, Dubai, specializing in children aged 2–12. She holds an MSc in Clinical Psychology from Uskudar University, Istanbul, and is a certified child-centered play therapist and filial therapist accredited by the Association for Play Therapy (APT). She is also an EMDR-certified practitioner and serves on the Advisory Board of the Children’s Foundation (Çocuk Vakfı). She writes about child development, play therapy, and family wellbeing.