THE INS AND OUTS OF USING TIME-OUT
THE INS AND OUTS OF USING TIME-OUT
Time-out is a way of disciplining your child for misbehavior without raising your hand or your voice. It involves removing your child from the good stuff in life for a short time immediately following a misbehavior.
Time-out for children is like a penalty for a hockey player. When a hockey player misbehaves on the ice, he has to go to the penalty box for two minutes. The referee does not scream at, threaten or hit the player. He merely blows the whistle and points to the penalty area. During his penalty time, the player is not allowed to play, only watch. Hockey players don't like penalties because they would rather be playing hockey than watching.
Keep this hockey comparison in mind when you use time-out with your child. Children usually do not like time-out because it keeps them from doing the things they like (playing, doing puzzles, having fun with you). Over time, children decrease or stop using negative misbehaviors so they can avoid time-out and continue doing the things they enjoy.
Here are some tips for effectively using time-out with your child.
Teaching Activity
Practice Time-Out
Practice time-out using these steps:
- Choose time-out areas.
- Explain time-out to your child.
- Use time-out every time the problem behaviors occur.
- Be specific and brief when you explain why your child must go to time-out.
- Do not talk to or look at your child during time-out.
- If your child leaves the time-out area, return him or her with no talk.
Social Skills
Introducing Yourself
During the time-out section of this course, you will probably need a break from learning about how to discipline your child. Practicing the skill of "Introducing Yourself" is a fun activity to do with your child. Here are the steps:
- Look at the person and smile.
- Use a pleasant voice.
- Say, "Hi, my name is…".
- Shake the person's hand.
- When you leave, say "It was nice to meet you".
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