A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 NIV
As parents, we often struggle when our children are arguing among each other. When angry words are said, the typical reaction of a child is to lash back, and then the argument escalates. Proverbs 15:1 is an important verse for children to learn and understand.
In an online article, author Felicia Mollohan discusses this verse and how she has been successful in teaching children about it. She actively asked questions, to encourage children to think for themselves and come up with answers and then they discussed the answers. Here are the questions she posed:
What does it mean to have a gentle answer?
Give me an example of a gentle answer?
What does wrath mean? Are there other words that are synonyms (mean the same) with “wrath”?
What are some things that make you really angry? How do you respond to those things?
Do you respond with a gentle answer?
What does it mean to have a harsh word?
What does it mean to “stir up anger”? Do I need a spoon for that?
How does this all work together?
With young children, you can use stuffed animals to illustrate the discussion. That way, they can get a better understanding. With older children, you can have them play roles – one is angry and says something that is hurtful and the other one responds with a gentle answer.
Learning how to respond gently when someone is angry or how to not respond with harshness takes a lot self-discipline. It is best to develop these abilities within the family, as there will be a lot of opportunities to practice. When your children face the outside world, they will be better equipped to handle anger from others.
To read the entire article and for more references for games to play to help children learn, visit:
https://ministry-to-children.com/a-gentle-answer-proverbs-151-for-kids-and-adults/
https://catsinthecradle.blog/2017/05/08/a-soft-answer-activity-proverbs-151/