Time out, or naughty step or calm down zone, quiet corner, what ever you choose to call it it is a very effective
discipline technique and will work with children as young as 18-24 months old. By using this method of discipline you are
giving your child time out from positive or negative reinforcement after they misbehave.
Implimenting the technique
Decide where the time out space will be it maybe a chair, which can be a chair in any room of the house, a space on the
floor, the child's bed, or the bottom of the stairs or any place where they are isolated from interaction with others. Use
a kitchen timer to count down your child's punishment time, which is usually one minute per year of age. Unlike the way it
is used for older kids, time out for toddlers is more so that you can give your child time to regroup and calm down. A toddler
is notl likely sit still in a time out so don't expect it, even for a minute or two, it is important to calmly take them back
and explain they must stay there, they do get the idea eventually!.
It is most important to explain to the child very calmly why they are there, what they have done and that they will sit
there for a set amount of time. At this age, you really want to spend most of your time on positive discipline and not so
much on punishment.
Stay calm and help your child learn what his limits are, remember to talk to your child once the punishment is up try to
get them to say sorry and then praise them when they do.
Many of our mums have found that the threat of this punishment is quite often enough to change a child’s behaviour
but if they do not respond be sure to carry out the punishment as they will quickly learn that your threats are hollow if
you do not, make sure that you, your partner and any one else who cares for your child use the same methods and carry
out the technique in the same way.
Most of us can remember our own parents saying "I will count to three if you haven't done it you will be in trouble". Usually
a clip around the ear followed if we chose not to comply.
Smacking is less and less acceptable these days but the premise does work in situations where you do not need to stop
what they are doing immediately the key is to have consequences e.g. ( no TV, or sweets or straight to bed) to them ignoring
your request instead of physical punishment we would have recieved.
Explain the consequences of their actions e.g. I am going to count to three if you do not stop making that noise you will
have no T.V. when we get home, and give them the time to react, the key is to follow up the threat as a child will soon realise
if you were bluffing and the next time the counting won’t work. It can be worth a try, it may in a lot of cases help,
sometimes our mothers did know best.
