Andy’s Anger Explosions is a story and game about a boy with explosive anger. He flies off the handle quickly, 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.
 
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 to recognize signs and symptoms happening 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 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. Not only that, but if kids can learn to manage anger while they are young, perhaps we can help bring down the domestic violence problems.
 
This resource was created to be used for elementary-aged children, ages 5-12.  The story is a quick read, introducing the concepts for the game. The game allows an opportunity for children to find the best coping skills for themselves, identify their triggers, and body responses to anger.  This resource can be used in individual, group, or family sessions or can be played at home in a family setting. 
 
The telehealth version provides the book in an online format using Google Slides. The book is first, then the game. There is a quick link from the first slide to the game for easy access. You will receive a PDF download with instructions and a link to the Google Slides file. Be sure to keep it in editing format when playing, otherwise, the links will not work.
 
This resource is also available as a hard copy.