Review
“Amanda Robinson’s Anger Management Skills Workbook for Kids is a wonderful contribution to the field and a practical self-help tool for children and their caregivers. Anger can be a difficult emotion to understand, tolerate, and manage, and this workbook provides engaging and useful exercises to help. Written for preschoolers to preteens, the age-appropriate language and clearly distilled concepts provide the opportunity for caregivers and children to work through these challenges together.” —Vaughn Mankey, MD, former faculty member, Harvard Medical School
"Amanda's workbook is a fun and engaging guide full of tools and exercises that foster healthy coping skills. As a bonus it encourages the whole family to be involved in the learning process through specific family activities. If you have a child who has BIG emotions, The Anger Management Skills Workbook for Kids is a must-have resource for your home." —Robyn McGrath, M.Ed., LPC-S, RPT-S, RYT
“Parents need help talking about feelings, and children need help expressing feelings. The activities in Anger Management Skills Workbook for Kids are designed to help parents understand their child’s anger and support their child in learning how to appropriately express anger. Ultimately the goal of this book is to facilitate the parent-child relationship through connection and practical activities that focus on helping children express themselves in meaningful ways.” —Mary Bennett, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S
"Amanda has created an invaluable resource for children to feel equipped in managing their emotions. Anger Management Skills Workbook for Kidscontains a variety of activities that help children identify their feelings, expand their emotional vocabulary, recognize how their feelings are connected to their behavioral choices, gain power over their reactions, and learn how to be proactive in the problem-solving process. The activities in this workbook reinforce a whole body approach to healing through the use of artistic expression, body movement, games, puzzles, role playing, family fun, and mindfulness—improving their current coping skills bank with easy-to-implement, practical ideas. As a play therapist, I would highly recommend and encourage all of my clients (and their families!) to utilize this beautifully written and illustrated resource.” —Jaclyn Sepp, MA, LPC, RPT, NCC
“Amanda Robinson uses her skills as a well attuned and connected therapist to lay out a structured, experiential journey for children and families wishing to understand their anger. Anger Management Skills Workbook for Kidsprovides a self-paced path filled with creative, strength-building activities that begin with the child and then evolve into a reinforcement section that includes the whole family. Amanda provides a safe avenue for looking at anger without the use of shame or guilt, focusing instead on empowerment. This is a valuable tool for parents and anyone working with children.” —Karen R. Burke, LPC-S, RPT-S, CCST-T
About the Author
Amanda Robinson is a licensed professional counselor and registered play therapist in private practice, where she works with children and teens with anxiety, anger, and trauma and facilitates parenting groups. She is currently the president of her local chapter of the Texas Association for Play Therapy and the secretary of the Austin Sandtray Association. She lives in Austin, Texas.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Activity 2: 'I' Messages
When you're feeling bothered by something, it's a good idea to think about what you need in order to feel better. Sometimes, you can meet your own need. Other times, you may want to share your thoughts with someone you trust so they can help you. Remember, this doesn't mean that your need will be met right away, because sometimes that's not possible! Here's what you can say:
I feel ________________________
Because ________________________
And I need _____________________
Examples of Needs:
*To go outdoors *A hug
*Sleep or rest *Playtime
*Time with a parent *Alone time
*Something to eat or drink *A break
*A deep breath
Did you notice that the sentence in the box above uses 'I'? This is so you can take ownership of your feeling and need, rather than blaming it on someone else. After all, 'I need alone time' sounds a lot nicer than, 'Get out of my room!' Practice coming up with 'I' messages below. You can think of your own ideas for needs, or you can use the examples above to help you.
Example: Your parents have been busy all day, and you've played by yourself. You're feeling bored and lonely.
I feel lonely because I've played by myself all day and I need time with Mom or Dad.
1. You didn't sleep well the night before, and now you're tired.
I feel __________________ because ________________________________________ and I need _________________.
2. You've been working on your homework for a long time, and you're starting to get frustrated with it.
I feel _________________ because _________________________________________ and I need _________________.
3. You've had a hard day at school, and you're feeling down.
I feel __________________ because _______________________________________ and I need __________________.
Product origin: United States
