Time Out
Time out, or naughty step or calm down zone, quiet corner what every you choose to call it, can be a very effective
discipline technique and can 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.
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 will not sit still in a time out, even for a minute or two but you must just calmly take
them back and explain they must stay there, after the third attempt to put them back it is best not to say anything to them
just take them back till thier time is up.
It is really important to calmly explain to the child why they are there, what they have done and that they will sit there
for a set amount of time, before you place them in the time out area, many fear that they will be left there so they refuse
to stay.
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.
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 and
your partner use the same methods and carry out the technique in the same way.
Counting to three
Most of us can remember our parents say "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. That is not acceptable these days but the premise does work in situations
where they do not need to stop what they are doing immediately, the key is to have consequences to them ignoring your request
and to carry them out, explain the consequences of their actions and give them the time to react by counting to three, it
can be worth a try, it may help, sometimes our mothers did know best.
