Second Step: Unit Three

Our class has begun the third and final unit of the Second Step curriculum. It focuses on anger management. Lessons do not teach that feeling angry is bad. But they do teach that how one acts when angry is critical. The anger-management steps children will learn and practice are designed to help them recognize, understand, and manage their anger. Here is an example of how you might practice these steps with your child at home.

You hear a shriek from the family room. You find your child near tears because Henry, the family dog, just ran through your child's board game. You say, "Remember to stop and think. Ask yourself how your body feels. I can tell that you're angry. Calm down. Remember what you said to yourself when you needed to calm down the other day? Try saying those things again. Now that you're calm, let's go through the problem-solving steps you learned to see if we can keep Henry from messing up your game next time.

A copy of the poster "What to Do When You are Angry" used in the classroom will come home tomorrow. Feel free to post it where your child can access it.

At-home activity idea: Write each of the calming-down methods on a small piece of paper. Fold each piece and place them in a container. Present your child with a pretend situation that might cause him or her to become angry (such as a sibling taking the last cookie). Your child then draws a piece of paper from the container and shows you how to use that particular calming down method.

Please contact me if you have any questions about anger-management skills or the Second Step program.