Friday, May 16, 2014

Time Out

Many parents use "time out" as a disciplinary measure, but most of them do not use it correctly.  They expect the time outs to teach children something, but many times they do not.  The main reason for time outs is aggression, which peaks between 1 and 3 years of age.

Time outs work best if a child has been first shown how to do a time out.  Sending them to their room where there is a TV or where they can amuse themselves is not true time out.  A quick response of what they did wrong, in six words or less is effective, such as "No hitting.  Hitting hurts people."  If they are put in a place for time out, it needs to be where they can see the parent.  The object is to teach them, not frighten them.


Some children break time out by asking if it is over yet.  Frequently breaking out of time out and restarting it can be a bid by the child for extra attention.  If they come out of time out before it is over, the parent may need to restrain the child by holding them.  Most children do not like being restrained in time out.  You can give them the chance to start the time out over and only have to be restrained if they prematurely come out of it.

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