Feb 26, 20222 min read

Andy's Anger Explosions: A Book and Game Combo

Updated: Dec 6

a book and game to help children overcome anger

Andy learns to take control of his body by stopping intrusive thoughts, using coping skills, and being aware of his body signals.

Andy’s Anger Eruptions is a story and game about a boy with explosive anger. He flies off the handle quickly, and then feels out of control when he must deal with the consequences of his anger. He is lonely and isolated. Not only that, but it is also impacting his self-esteem, as he feels like he just can’t win.

Domestic violence is discussed through a back-door approach. I like using the back door with kids because it seems to keep their defenses down. In the story, Andy spends the day with the principal because he got in trouble. She tells him he needs to control his anger because the consequences get more severe as he grows older. She tells him about a dad who was arrested for hurting his children during a fit of anger. This opens the door to discussing not only domestic violence but also family dynamics in the home and allows insight into how parents manage their emotions. It allows the child to compare and contrast their experience to Andy's.

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the game helps children identify body signals, triggers, and coping skills to help them calm down.

Despite recognizing the consequences of his anger outbursts, Andy continues to struggle. A friend helps him learn how to recognize the tell-tale signs in his body that show him he is getting triggered. He then learned coping skills to calm down and regain control of his body. He learned how to control his body so that his anger no longer had control over him.

The book and game cover important topics when addressing anger in children. First, they need to be aware of their triggers. They also need to know how their thoughts trigger feelings, which will result in behavior. CBT interventions are offered to gain control of thoughts. Next, body awareness helps kids recognize signs and symptoms in their bodies to alert them that their fight, flight, or freeze response has been triggered. To turn off this response, they need to learn coping skills. These include CBT interventions, exercise, calming activities, and ways to process their emotions.

This is a great resource for kids who struggle with anger. They are so often labeled as “bad” kids, or they are scorned for their blowups. This can really impact their self-concept. They just need a hand in understanding their bodies and thoughts. A little bit of success can go a long way in building confidence to overcome these challenges. If kids can learn to manage anger while they are young, perhaps we can help bring down the domestic violence problems.