Abstract

Young children can erupt like little volcanoes when they are feeling angry. It can be overwhelming and difficult to deal with, and can produce angry feelings in the parent or caregiver too.

This book is packed with advice and strategies for those working with children under five on how to understand and manage anger in children, and also how to help their parents or caregivers to deal with anger. The authors outline the different reasons children may feel angry so that their emotions can be fully understood, and offer strategies to combat negative feelings and minimize outbursts. These include putting in place behavioural boundaries and helping a child to feel secure. Simple activities and exercises are also given to help children and adults to express their anger positively. In addition, a selection of poems and stories will help adults to pass on the lessons of the book to children.

This practical and accessible book will be of essential use to any professional helper of parents and young children such as early childhood educators, caregivers and social workers, as well as to parents themselves.

Warwick Pudney is a social ecologist and relationship therapist who has spent the last 25 years working with men, couples and families in New Zealand. He specializes in the areas of anger, abusive behaviour, men's welfare and parenting. He is a lecturer at AUT University in Auckland and writes and gives workshops and training courses in his chosen fields. Éliane Whitehouse was a primary school teacher and psychotherapist for more than 25 years. As a therapist she specialized in family relationships and 'Happier Parenting' courses. She also published novels for children. Together they are the authors of A Volcano in My Tummy: Helping Children to Handle Anger and Adolescent Volcanoes: Helping Adolescents and their Parents to Deal with Anger.
one of the core aspects to therapeutic work with children is being able to empathise and listen to whatever they have to say. This well written book stresses the importance of using these skills in our everyday lives, and when parents/teachers are dealing with anger in under fives. The tone of the book is soothing and likely to inspire its readers to try out the strategies and techniques that fill its pages. The authors provide a wealth of information about identifying, understanding and calming anger in young children... Parents and teachers will welcome this book with open arms and, no doubt, wonder why they haven't read it before!
Youth in Mind
Little Volcanoes is a comprehensive guide to techniques for helping professional workers and families to understand and manage the behaviour of young children. The sections on child development, and particularly on the development of attachment, will make it a useful resource for students and those undertaking further professional training; and the wide range of practical ideas and strategies will provide a powerful compendium of guidance for professionals working directly with parents - therapists, teachers and practitioners in schools and early years settings, and those running support groups for parents and carers. I do not know of a book that covers the ground so thoroughly or in such a helpful way.
Sally Featherstone, Early Years Consultant and Trainer
It gives an alternative and refreshing insight into the causes of anger and associated behaviours that feels much more supportive of teachers, parents, carers and young people, in recognising and embracing their anger and the anger of others.
BACP Children & Young People
There is a wealth of insight here regarding the causes of anger and associated behaviours and the ways in which these can be approached in a truly empathic and effective way. The exercises, tips and strategies (including the use of mindfulness techniques) are entirely practical, evidence-based and presented with passion, kindness and genuine understanding... [T]his truly comprehensive and timely publication will certainly support teachers, parents, carers and young people in recognising, managing and embracing their anger - and the anger of others.
From the Foreword by Tina Rae, Educational Psychologist and Academic and Professional Tutor, University of East London, UK
Little Volcanoes has been written as a guide to techniques for helping professional workers and families to understand and manage the behaviour of young children. The authors have many years' experience of working with children and families and they are the authors of several books in this field... This is a very useful, sensible and helpful book which provides much information for dealing with anger, tantrums and other emotional outbursts.
SEN Magazine, Mary Mountstephen
A constructive approach also includes listening to the child with "full attention and empathy", tracking back to the vulnerable emotions behind the anger and putting words to the emotions.
Nursery World