Friday, March 06, 2009
Time-Outs: Pros & Cons...
Giving a toddler a "time-out" for behaving badly seems easy enough. Remove the toddler from the situation where he is acting out, sit him in a chair or in another room, and tell him he is in "time-out" from the activity. Or, at least that's the theory. But do child discipline time-outs actually work? It often depends on who you ask and how you apply the discipline.
Proponents of time-outs used for child discipline say that removing a misbehaving child from an activity and placing him in a pre-determined area or even a "time-out" or so-called "thinking" chair provides the toddler with a controlled way to calm down. Advocates say that properly behaving youngsters can continue their activity without further interruption from the misbehaving child, and a parent can use the end of the time-out to discuss with the tot what occurred, why it is not appropriate, and how the youngster should act in the future.
A few arguments against time-outs include:
Also on the subject of time-out... don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour this weekend for Daylight Saving Time (okay... bad segue, I know. But just wanted to give you a reminder...)
Giving a toddler a "time-out" for behaving badly seems easy enough. Remove the toddler from the situation where he is acting out, sit him in a chair or in another room, and tell him he is in "time-out" from the activity. Or, at least that's the theory. But do child discipline time-outs actually work? It often depends on who you ask and how you apply the discipline.
Proponents of time-outs used for child discipline say that removing a misbehaving child from an activity and placing him in a pre-determined area or even a "time-out" or so-called "thinking" chair provides the toddler with a controlled way to calm down. Advocates say that properly behaving youngsters can continue their activity without further interruption from the misbehaving child, and a parent can use the end of the time-out to discuss with the tot what occurred, why it is not appropriate, and how the youngster should act in the future.
If you believe in using time-outs, there are a few rules you need to follow:
- Frequently discuss behavioral expectations with your child so that your toddler has a base understanding of right and wrong and consequences.
- Use time-outs sparingly. Overuse of them for every single toddler infraction will greatly dilute their effectiveness.
- The amount of time for a time-out should be in keeping with a child's age. Most advocates recommend using one minute per year of the youngster.
- Have a talk with the toddler when time-out is over. Reassure the child that you love her no matter what, but at the same time remind her that certain behaviors cannot be allowed.
- Never threaten a "time-out" and then not carry it out. You are essentially making yourself an ineffective disciplinarian.
A few arguments against time-outs include:
- The child may be too young to understand the significance of a time-out.
- The child resists time-outs. If you find yourself in a constant battle with the tot to try and "force" him to stay in time-out because he keeps getting up, this approach may not work for you or the child.
- Most caregivers don't apply time-outs consistently. More people "threaten" a time-out than actually apply the discipline, effectively rendering it useless.
- Try simple and positive redirection. Time-out naysayers often say that simple redirection of a toddler's behavior works better than a punishment for young kids anyway.
Also on the subject of time-out... don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour this weekend for Daylight Saving Time (okay... bad segue, I know. But just wanted to give you a reminder...)
// posted by Tammy Wachter @ 5:00 AM 
