| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | · The adult remains calm |
| Dr Phil in his effective parenting survey of 17,000 | | | | · The child understands in advance about Time Out |
| people found that the two top challenges facing | | | | · It is viewed as a calming measure |
| parents were making punishment work and improving | | | | · It is not over used |
| school performance. In my experience as a class | | | | To use Time out as an effective parenting technique I |
| teacher and coach I have noticed that the biggest | | | | suggest the following guidelines. Children must be told |
| obstacle to maintaining effective discipline within the | | | | clearly which behaviours lead to Time Out. Parent |
| home is a lack of constructive, consistency discipline. | | | | cannot change the rules on a whim or when they are |
| Effective discipline should be positive, constructive and | | | | angry. For example if the rules are Time Out is used |
| for correction rather than punitive. Many parents look | | | | for biting, hitting and throwing things you cannot decide |
| upon discipline as a last resort when they are in a rage | | | | to send your child to Time out for refusing to eat her |
| and therefore were confused and inconsistent in their | | | | carrots at meal time. Remind her that Time Out is a |
| use of Time Out. | | | | way of helping her to calm down and behave better. |
| Picture this! Your child is screaming like you are killing | | | | Children should be shown where the time out area is in |
| him, arms flaying wildly feet thrashing around. You feel | | | | advance. |
| angry and frustrated and you’d like to respond | | | | Choose a safe, quiet boring place. Hallways, bottom |
| by shouting back at him or worse still giving him a swift | | | | step, chair facing a wall or a small rug are all suitable |
| slap on the bottom. Does this resonate with you? Well | | | | Time Out places. It is always a good idea to have a |
| I've experienced this many times too. Tantrums are | | | | back up room to send your child if he refuses to stay |
| unfortunately horribly normal. Most young children have | | | | in the Time Out area. Remember Time Out is not a |
| tantrums, throw toys, bite or stamp when they are | | | | punishment so don’t use a scary place such as |
| frustrated. Although embarrassing and irritating, when | | | | a dark cupboard or cellar. |
| dealt with calmly by using effective discipline | | | | To be effective Time Out needs to be short about |
| techniques most children grow out of it. Time Out is | | | | three minutes for a three-year-old, four minutes for a |
| often over used by parents who have not thought up | | | | four year old, a minute for each year of a child's life. |
| other discipline strategies. | | | | When your child has been quiet for about two minutes |
| Be Consistent it is vital that your child knows that you | | | | invite him to come out. If your child refuses to come |
| always follow through. | | | | out don’t cajole or nag simply ignore him, he will |
| Children don’t like being ignored so if your child is | | | | join you when he is ready. Ask your child for an |
| behaviour is petty ignore him or her. For difficult | | | | apology. It is important at this point to discuss calmly |
| behaviour that cannot be ignored, and for children who | | | | and pleasantly what has happened don’t |
| regularly disobey their parents Time Out can be useful | | | | lecture. Many parents omit the final phase - the |
| if used correctly. The purpose of time out is to calm | | | | discussion. It is in fact the most important part of the |
| your child down and interrupt difficult behaviour. If a | | | | using Time Out effectively because during the |
| child is hysterical Time Out may not be the best | | | | discussion the child is taught the correct way to |
| solution. Research shows that Time Out is most | | | | behave. Finally give your child a hug to reassure him |
| effective for children three to six years of age. Time | | | | that you still love him. This is how to use time out as an |
| Out is inappropriate for children under two. | | | | effective parenting technique. |
| Time out is only effective when: | | | | |