angry/furious

Feeling angry is not a very nice feeling but it’s a common emotion felt by everyone. Scientists believe we are hard-wired to have an anger response.  Sometimes big anger reactions can override our “thinking brain” – our deep-brain amygdala responds with a fight response, causing the adrenal glands to flood the body with adrenaline and testosterone. Children are more likely to have these deep-brain responses. They can lead to aggression. 

In your Coco Koala Emotions cards, you will see a card for ANGRY and also one for FURIOUS. FURIOUS is simply really really ANGRY. It is a good idea to help children recognise signs of  anger brewing – both the body responses and the triggers – before it gets too big (and turns into fury). 

Being annoyed, being jealous and being frustrated are all feelings that came seem like anger. If left, unmanaged, they can also EXPLODE into a child feeling FURIOUS! There are cards in your pack that represent all of these emotions. 

How to explain angry to children

“Sometimes you might feel angry. It’s normal to feel angry sometimes but not all the time.

Being annoyed and being jealous and being frustrated can all be angry sort of feelings too. 

When you start feeling angry, you might feel hot in your face. You might find that you are making fists with your hands. You might huff or shake your head. Your heart might beat strong and fast in your chest. 

Angry faces often have eyebrows that come down in the middle – but not always. Look at Coco’s eyebrows. Can you see Coco’s eyebrows going down in the middle? 

When you get really really angry, it’s called feeling FURIOUS. (I use a hand gesture to show BIG).  When you are furious, you might feel really hot. You might feel like yelling or even hitting someone. It’s important not to hurt anyone when you are feeling angry or furious. 

Usually it’s  a good idea to try and stop when you feel a little bit angry.  Try to stop it turning into feeling furious.” 

Managing the Feeling

Like any feeling, if it isn’t a nice feeling it can help to say how you feel.  “I feel angry because…”

Sometimes it helps to take some deep slow breaths or to go for a walk around the yard or the house or to pat a pet, a soft toy or a puppet gently.

Relate to the Child

When have you felt angry?  Can you think what your body does when YOU are angry?   Does your heart beat fast?  Do you feel hot in the face?  Do you make fists with your hands?  Do you show your teeth?  Do your eye-brows wrinkle downwards? 

Time to imagine

Here, Coco is feeling angry and then here Coco is feeling furious.  What might make Coco feel angry?  What could Coco do to stop the ANGRY feeling turning into a FURIOUS feeling? 

Language to explore

The following can mean the same as being angry… or REALLY angry… 

*Feeling mad.     *Feeling cranky      *Feeling irate 

The following are idioms that relate to being angry. These can be explored with primary-school aged children. 

* Lose it   *Hit the roof    *Boil over   *See red

This week

See if you can find a book where the character gets angry. What made them angry?  Does the same thing make YOU angry?