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Do Time-Outs Work for Toddlers?
Two Moms and an Expert Sound Off By Donna Smith
and Perfect Parenting. "The key to using time-out with this age group is to first understand its purpose: to interrupt a child's negative behavior with space, time and quiet, the purpose of which is to allow the child to calm down and then re-enter playtime in a more pleasant manner. Conversely, time-out when used as 'punishment' is rarely effective, and often escalates negative behavior on the part of the child (and on the part of the parent, who is attempting to keep an angry child sitting still in a chair). Time-out is much more valuable when used to teach self-control rather than when it is used to punish the lack of it."
Pantley says time-out can be an excellent way to stop an out-of-control child in mid-action. "It is useful with toddlers for stopping tempter tantrums or physical violence hitting, biting and so on," she says. "It's effective because it allows the parent to take control of the situation while still keeping in mind that angry, emotional toddlers need an adult's help to gain control of their emotions. When used in this way a parent should be quick: catch the child in the act. Identify the action using short and simple phrases: 'No hitting. Time-out.' Then move the child away from the fray into a quiet place with instructions, 'Sit here for a minute.' You might even choose to sit with the child, as the purpose of the sitting is not punishment, but an opportunity to move away from the source of the problem, and gain self-control. The length of time the child sits doesn't necessarily have to be a specific amount of minutes, but rather, can be just long enough to get the child out of the emotional situation and for the child to gain control of his behavior."
