Cool Down

Purpose:
To help your tween or teen master the skill of self-control. Everyone gets angry-it's a natural human response to negative external stimuli. This activity will assist your child in calming the inner storm and focusing on a resolution to the issue that is causing anger.

Activity Instructions:
When your teen is angry, have her stop what she's doing and remove herself from the negative situation. (You can also role-play this activity using a situation that has caused anger in the past.)

Instruct hhim to take a deep breath and visualize the anger slowly leaving the body. When he's calm, have her ask himself: "What do I want to happen in this situation?" Let him write down his answer and help come up with a solution that will bring the desired results.

Outcome:
Your teen will gain confidence with a strategy in place to handle intense emotions.