Find different ways to help children express their angry feelings without hurting.

Materials:

• Modeling dough
• Drums
• Pots and Pans
• Pillows

Directions:

Talk with the children about what they do to calm their angry feelings. Then give the children suggestions about how to "get out" their anger, such as:

• Make up and sing a "mad" song or chant
• Chomp on crunchy foods such as carrot sticks
• Make a "mad" picture
• Do a "mad" dance
• Pound on dough, drums, pots and pans or pillows

Display some modeling dough, drums, pots and pans, and pillows. Before distributing the objects, set some limits for using them, such as:

• Modeling dough stays on the table
• You may pound on the objects only -- not on other toys or people
• When you give the "stop" signal, everyone has to stop

Give each child an object on which to pound and give the class a "start" signal. After 15-30 seconds, stop the children to make sure they understand the rules. Increase the time to a minute or two, and let them play again. Have the children change objects with another person and play again.

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