Helping Your Child Deal with Frustration

Children must learn to deal with frustration in a positive way. This devotion is designed to help them become aware of those things that trigger frustration and the resulting negative behaviors. The memorization and confessing of Scripture can only direct their emotions and actions in the proper direction. This devotion is meant to be done as a family. After the devotion, Scripture Memorization Cards can be given to the children.

Before you start:

• A prayerful attitude: ask the Lord for insight and understanding of His Word for each family member
• Gather the following tools:
  1. Bible in one or two translations
  2. Children's Bible for each child
  3. Scripture Memorization cards already printed out
  4. scissors
  5. clasping ring, string or ribbon
• Be sensitive to the attention spans of your children. Stop if their eyes are glazing over or they have wandered mentally. You can start up again any time.

Devotion

We all feel frustrated when things don't go the way they should. Maybe you are having a hard time in school even though you try very hard. It could be that your brother or sister bothers you all the time. It is possible that when you try to draw, build or create something it just doesn't work right. Sometimes when your parents have to correct you or tell you to do something you don't want to do that can be frustrating. (Parents: feel free to include any situations you know of that trigger frustration in your child.)

Discussion questions:

1. When do you feel the most frustrated? (allow children time to share their frustrating experiences)

   There are several ways you can deal with frustation. You can:

   • get real mad
   • blame it on someone else
   • kick the dog or hit your sister
   • cry
   • give up or quit
   • have a temper tantrum
   • feel sorry for yourself
   • trust in the Lord to help you
   
   
2. How do you usually act when you get frustrated?
   
   
3. Which choice from the list I just read would be best?

   Let's read some Bible verses that might help you when:

   1. you are having a hard time in school or doing a project.
      • Philippians 4:13
      • Hebrews 13:6
      • Psalm 46:1
      • Isaiah 41:10
   2. you want something and can't have it.
      • Matthew 6:33
      • Matthew 7:7
      • Proverbs 3:5-6
   3. your brother or sister bothers you or is mean to you.
      • Matthew 5:44
      • Matthew 7:12
      • Matthew 22:39
      • Proverbs 12:16
      • Proverbs 13:18
   4. your parents want you to do something you don't want to do or you think they are being unfair to you.
      • Ephesians 6:1
      • Colossians 3:20
      • Colossians 3:23-24
      • Proverbs 3:7
      • Proverbs 6:20
      • Proverbs 10:4
      • Proverbs 11:29
      • Proverbs 12:1
      • James 1:19

   When you begin to feel frustrated you always have a choice: you can act out your frustration or you can say a Bible verse out loud and ask the Lord to help you right where you are.

   In order to know which scriptures to say at the right time you need to hide them in your heart by memorizing them. Here are some cards you can use to help you memorize some Scriptures that can help you when you start to feel frustration coming on. Remember: it is up to you to decide whether you are going to act out or say a Bible verse and let the Lord help you.

    

Scripture Memorization Cards

• Scripture Memorization Cards 1
• Scripture Memorization Cards 2
• Scripture Memorization Cards 3
• Scripture Memorization Cards 4

I have created a colorful card for each of the scriptures listed in the devotion above. These are provided free for printing and distribution to your children.

These cards can be printed out, cut and compiled any way you like. They are best printed out on card stock, but they can be printed on plain paper as well. Use a hole-punch to make a hole in the corner of the cards and then connect them with a hinged metal ring, string or ribbon.

Have your children memorize one Scripture every few days. Help them learn to confess appropriate scriptures for frustrating situations that arise. We can teach them young to rely on the Word of God to bring deliverance and change to their character.

©Copyright 2006 by ADHD of the Christian Kind.
Devotion and cards may be printed out for personal HOME use only.

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