.png)
Helping Children Understand Anger: The Anger Story Sack
- Michael Wood
- Jun 18
- 3 min read
By Aspire Behaviour Management
Anger is often the emotion that gets children in trouble—but it’s rarely the real issue. Behind every outburst is usually an unmet need, a moment of overwhelm, or a child struggling to regulate emotions they can’t yet name.
At Aspire, we support schools to respond with empathy and structure. One of the tools we’ve developed to help with this is the Anger Story Sack—a sensory-rich, visually engaging resource that helps children understand anger, express it safely, and explore ways to calm their minds and bodies.
Why Focus on Anger?
Many children experience anger before they have the language or strategies to deal with it. For some, anger becomes their default response to stress, confusion, anxiety or fear. Left unsupported, this can lead to exclusion, isolation, or shutdown.
That’s why it’s so important to help children:
Recognise early signs of anger in their body
Express anger in appropriate, safe ways
Learn tools for calming and recovery
Understand that anger is valid—it’s the actions that follow that matter
What’s in the Anger Story Sack?
Each item in the sack links to how anger feels, looks, or sounds—and provides tools for children to name and regulate their experience.
Inside you’ll find:
📚 Anger-Themed Story Books: A relatable entry point for children to see how others feel and manage anger. Books like When I Feel Angry or Feeling Angry help normalise the emotion and reduce shame.
🗣️ Voice Recorder with Mirror: Children can record how they feel and hear their own words back. The mirror allows for reflection—literally and emotionally—on facial expressions and body cues.
🔴 Red Cloth or Scarf: A visual representation of intensity and escalation—used to talk about “anger levels” or “feeling red.”
🔦 Red Torch or Light: Symbolises ‘warning signs’ or a traffic light system for emotion zones. Great for visual learners, can also be used to show on their body where they may feel anger - great for non-verbal children.
🧶 Spikey Ball: A tactile resource that lets children release energy safely. Useful during reflection or calming time. Can also show how anger can hurt others.
📃 Crinkly Paper: A sensory tool that adds noise and texture, supporting regulation and helping shift focus.
- You will probably have something lying around you can use
📃Conversation Starters: To help children get started on discussing what makes them feel angry.
-Resource idea at the bottom of the page
Why It Works
The Anger Sack gives children permission to feel angry—without judgment or punishment. It supports open discussion, builds vocabulary, and offers practical ways to move from dysregulation to calm.
It's particularly powerful for:
Children with autism or ADHD
Pupils at risk of exclusion
KS1 and KS2 children still developing self-awareness
Use during debrief after incidents or proactive teaching in PSHE
Try It in Your Setting
You don’t need to buy anything bespoke—many items can be found around school or added to over time. If you’d like to see the other story sacks you can follow the links below.
A printable checklist of resources is below and some helpful conversation starters
.
Final Thought
Anger is not the enemy—silence is. The Anger Story Sack gives children a voice, a structure, and a safe space to be heard.
Further Training
If you would like to talk about how Emotional Literacy training can help your pupils get in touch - training@aspirebm.co.uk.
Kommentare