Prior to using this Quick Discussion Guide, you and your child may want to do any or all of the following activities on "It's My Life":

• Read the "Dealing With Anger" article.

• Work together to come up with a "You Said It" submission for this topic.

• Print out the Word Search and/or IML Journal page "Dealing With Anger.” Complete it together or encourage your child to complete it on his/her own.

Discussion Questions:

• How have you seen other people handle feelings of anger? What’s an example of an inappropriate way to do this? What’s an example of a healthy way to do this?

• What makes you angry in your daily life? Is there something that happened recently that made you especially angry?

• When you keep your anger inside, what does it feel like? Does it seem to get worse or better?

• When you let your anger out, what does it feel like? Does it seem to get worse or better?

• Is there anything I can do to help you when you’re angry, or do you want to be left alone?

• Would it help you to have an outlet for your aggressive feelings, like a sport, an activity, or some kid of creative hobby? Would you like us to work together to find something like this, and even something both of us can do?

• How are your feelings of anger related to how we get along as a family?

• Are you affected by how I, or other members of this family, deal with our anger?

• Do you feel like it would help to talk to someone about your anger, like a psychologist or a school counselor?

Remember:
--Unexpressed anger can build up, and children can often exhibit destructive behavior if they do not find a constructive way to release their anger.

--How you cope with your own anger can set an example for your child.

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