Children's Anger and Tantrums

Triggers

Triggers are situations or events that cause you or your child to feel a loss of control. When this happens, you’re more likely to become angrier than normal.

Examples of triggers include:

• Physical stress, like hunger, tiredness, or illness;
  
  
• Unexpected occurrences, like a change in routine;
  
  
• Feeling insecure or put down. When something threatens self-esteem, anger often results.

Identifying triggers and practicing prevention are key skills in anger management. You can’t always prevent triggers, but being aware of them can prevent escalating a situation.