Helping Angry or Sad Kids Relax

Techniques to Calm Children...

When children are angry or out of sorts we need many techniques to calm them down before we can talk together. No matter what it is, the situation begs for calmness.  Child psychologist, Angela Pruess’ parentswithconfidence.com is a wonderful site to help. It may depend on whether there is great anger or sadness which techniques you choose before you talk calmly together.  

Here are more samples of her suggestions for different ages:

Massage the hands. With a little baby oil use your thumb to 

massage each finger gently from the base to the tip. 

Massage the web between the thumb and pointer with your 

thumb from tip to palms up and the top of the hand upward. 

Rubbing children’s feet is also relaxing while you talk 

soothingly. Start by gently holding a foot. Then lightly press 

and circle your thumbs just above the center of the foot 

bottom where it bends ( the solar plexus reflex). Gently 

stroke from under the big toe. Then move on to the other 

toes. More can be found on You Tube when you search for 

reflexology or baby massage.Give a gentle circular back rub 
while a child is on your lap and sing a favorite soft song 
together, pray, or read a favorite book. Encourage 
preschoolers and older children to press their palms together 

and then release and relax several times. Squeeze a balled 

up wet wash cloth, squishy toy, or favorite stuffed animal. 

Release and relax. Do wall pushups together or lean against 

a counter at an angle and gently 

push away and back down. 

Young children can learn to give themselves a hug, close 

their eyes and picture nature or their favorite spot. They can 

go to their favorite spot and hug a stuffed animal, you, the 

dog, and pillow until they are ready to talk.

Read, color, or look at book while lying on the stomach.

Create something with clay. Children may need to slam it 

down down the table and pound or knead it for a while.

Go for a walk.  Throw some snowballs, snow chunks at tree 

trunks. Throw stone in the water. For young children 

you can make a pillow path and they can crawl on it. Walk or 

run around the inside or outside of the house. Go for a bike 

ride. Throw a ball over the garage 

roof. Someone catch it on the other side and throw it back. 

Throw a ball against a wall and catch it.

Older children can recite the alphabet backwards, count 

backwards from 100, or count backwards by 2or 3.  Make it a 

bit challenging, but not too challenging that they will give up. 

For more information see grandparentsteach@gmail.com; wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons; on You Tube, or Pinterest  Photos, Fran Darling: fdarling fotos