Child Time Out (the Naughty Step!):

Try to view discipline in a positive parenting way.

• If a rule is broken, give your child some time out - a short, quiet period alone, without play.
  
  
• The amount of time varies depending on the child, but a general rule of thumb is the same number of minutes as the age of the child.
  
  
• 'The naughty step' (the bottom step of the stairs) is a good place for younger children to encourage better behavior, or you could have a time out chair.
  
  
• Avoid sending them to their bedroom. We want to them to see their bedroom as a positive place to spend time. Also there are far too many things to play with in a bedroom.
  
  
• Time out discipline should have a calming effect. They should be doing nothing but thinking about the house rule they have broken while they are there.
  

For the older child, think of a place in your home which is safe, warm, not too far away from you, where they could go for a few minutes to cool down. We have an inside porch which is ideal!

Some children, particularly those with ADHD, will find it difficult to remain in time out for long. Keep the time short (1 minute if necessary to start with!) but be firm about the need to stay there. You may need to keep putting them back there in the beginning.

When time out doesn't work:

If you have tried kids' time out, and it has not worked, or you have not managed to keep your child in your chosen area for the right amount of time, make sure you are following the above advice.

Most people have problems with child time out because they are expecting their child to stay there too long. Or it maybe that the place you have chosen is either too interesting, with too many distractions, or maybe it is too isolated from everyone else and your child feels insecure staying there.

Using time out in conjunction with a behavior chart will also increase it's efficiency.

It is a good idea to explain child time out to your children before they are in trouble. Let them experiment with sitting there if they want to. Explain what it is for, what they should think about while they are there, and how long they will be sitting there. That way they will know what to expect when they behave badly.




Back to 'Positive Parenting'.

Return to Homepage.