COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Supporting Children with Anger Management Challenges course. This program is designed for early childhood educators, carers, and professionals working with young children who display difficulties with managing anger.
Supporting children in the early years requires a deep understanding of emotional development, especially when emotions such as frustration and anger manifest in challenging ways. This course begins by exploring the developmental roots of childhood anger, the difference between healthy expression and concerning behaviour, and the milestones that influence emotional responses from toddlerhood through preschool age.
To better support emotional regulation, it’s essential to understand how the brain develops. This section explains the role of the amygdala in emotional reactivity, the gradual development of the prefrontal cortex, and how stress impacts a child’s ability to self-regulate. By recognising how the brain processes anger, educators can respond with empathy and skill.
Recognising what triggers a child’s anger is a key step in preventing and managing it. This section outlines common frustration points in child care settings, environmental stressors such as noise and transitions, and how sensory overload can result in emotional outbursts. Identifying triggers allows for proactive adjustments to reduce escalation.
Children who have experienced trauma often express anger as a way of coping. This section addresses the link between ACEs and anger, highlights how aggressive behaviour may signal unmet emotional needs, and introduces trauma-informed strategies that prioritise safety, consistency, and compassionate care.
A supportive environment plays a crucial role in managing anger. This section focuses on how room layout, calming colours, and predictable routines can contribute to a child’s emotional stability and reduce triggers in the learning space.
Planning ahead can prevent many incidents of anger. This section provides proactive strategies, such as maintaining clear routines, integrating calming design features, and using visual cues to help children understand expectations and transitions throughout the day.
Emotion coaching helps children understand and express their feelings. This section introduces techniques for naming emotions, validating children’s experiences without reinforcing negative behaviour, and teaching them alternative ways to calm down and express needs constructively.
De-escalation is a vital skill in moments of heightened emotion. This section teaches the “3 Rs” approach—Regulate, Relate, Reason—while also covering effective use of tone, body language, and designated safe spaces to help children return to a calm state.
Positive behaviour support is about reinforcing what we want to see more of. This section explores how to identify replacement behaviours, reward positive choices, and use natural consequences as part of a consistent behavioural framework. Role-playing and reinforcement techniques are included to promote social-emotional growth.
Educational activities and games are powerful tools for teaching emotional regulation. This section outlines how play-based learning can help children understand anger, develop turn-taking and cooperation skills, and practice emotional expression in safe and creative ways.
A well-rounded social-emotional curriculum can change how children view themselves and others. This section includes circle time activities, puppet play, empathy games, and storytelling resources that make learning about emotions engaging and meaningful.
Sensory tools help regulate children who experience overwhelming emotions. This section explores the use of sensory diets, fidget items, weighted tools, and movement breaks to support children in maintaining emotional balance throughout the day.
Conflicts between peers are common, and mediation builds important social skills. This section explains how to teach conflict resolution through guided dialogue, how to set up and use a “peace table,” and how to coach children through disagreements in a calm and respectful way.
Physical aggression must be managed with safety and professionalism. This section provides guidance on safely blocking harmful actions, understanding when protective holds may be necessary (as a last resort), and repairing relationships after an incident to maintain trust and emotional connection.
Families play a vital role in supporting behavioural development. This section explores collaborative planning, communication methods between home and child care, and how to incorporate cultural beliefs and practices when addressing discipline and emotional wellbeing.
Some children require specialised strategies. This section focuses on working with neurodivergent children, those with speech delays, and children experiencing separation anxiety—each of whom may express anger differently or more frequently than their peers.
Peer interaction is essential for social growth. This section explores how to manage group dynamics, encourage positive friendships, and use group-based activities to build cooperation, empathy, and mutual respect among children.
Safety must always come first. This section outlines clear protocols for handling physical outbursts, including legal and ethical considerations, and explains how to develop emergency response plans that protect both the child and others.
Culture and socioeconomic context can influence how anger is expressed and interpreted. This section encourages educators to recognise and respect diverse backgrounds, avoid bias in behaviour management, and adapt techniques to suit the values and needs of the families they support.
Building resilience is the long-term goal of this work. This section outlines strategies for helping children build internal coping mechanisms, develop emotional flexibility, and prepare for the challenges of school and life with strength, empathy, and confidence.
By the end of this course, you will have the practical tools, developmental knowledge, and compassionate strategies needed to support young children in understanding and managing anger—fostering healthier emotional expression and stronger educator-child relationships.
Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Understanding Childhood Anger
- Developmental causes of anger
- Difference between anger and aggression
- When anger becomes a behavioural concern
2. Brain Development and Anger
- Amygdala responses in young children
- Developing prefrontal cortex control
- How stress affects emotional regulation
3. Recognising Anger Triggers
- Common frustration triggers in child care
- Environmental factors
- Emotional/sensory overload signs
4. Trauma and Anger Connections
- ACEs and fight/flight responses
- Anger as communication of unmet needs
- Trauma-informed response strategies
5. Creating a Supportive Environment
- Physical Space Arrangement for Calm
- Use of Colours and Décor to Influence Mood
- Routine and Structure to Minimise Stress
6. Proactive Classroom Strategies
- Predictable routines to prevent outbursts
- Calming classroom design elements
- Visual schedules for autonomy
7. Emotion Coaching Methods
- Naming feelings
- Validating without reinforcing
- Teaching "cool down" alternatives
- Active Listening Skills
- Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication Techniques
- Teaching Children to Articulate Feelings
8. De-escalation Techniques
- The "3 Rs" (Regulate, Relate, Reason)
- Safe space creation guidelines
- Tone/body language for calming
9. Positive Behaviour Support
- Replacement behaviour identification
- Catch-and-reward positive moments
- Natural consequence frameworks
- Cognitive Behavioural Techniques
- Role-playing Scenarios
- Positive Reinforcement and Reward Systems
10. Educational Activities and Games
- Anger Management Through Play
- Games that Teach Turn-Taking and Sharing
- Storytelling and Role-Playing Emotions
11. Social-Emotional Teaching
- Anger-themed circle time activities
- Puppet play for emotional literacy
- Empathy-building group games
- Anger Management Through Play
- Games that Teach Turn-Taking and Sharing
- Storytelling and Role-Playing Emotions
12. Sensory Regulation Tools
- Sensory diets for high-energy children
- Fidget tools and weighted items
- Movement breaks implementation
13. Conflict Mediation
- Peer conflict resolution steps
- "Peace table" setup and use
- Educator mediation scripts
14. Physical Aggression Response
- Blocking hitting/biting safely
- Protective holds (last resort only)
- Post-incident relationship repair
15. Family Partnership Approaches
- Collaborative behaviour planning
- Cultural considerations in discipline
- Home-school communication logs
16. Special Considerations
- Anger in neurodivergent children
- Speech delays and frustration
- Separation anxiety connections
17. Group Dynamics and Peer Interaction
- Managing Conflicts Among Children
- Encouraging Positive Peer Relationships
- Role of Group Activities in Developing Social Skills
18. Safety Measures and Policies
- Guidelines for Handling Physical Outbursts
- Legal Considerations and Child Safety
- Creating Emergency Response Plans
19. Cultural and Socioeconomic Considerations
- Understanding the Impact of Background on Behaviour
- Adapting Anger Management Techniques to Diverse Needs
- Addressing Stereotypes and Bias in Behaviour Management
20. Building Resilience and Coping Skills
- Techniques for Fostering Emotional Strength
- Encouraging Adaptability and Flexibility
- Preparing Children for School and Beyond
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.