7.
A TIME OUT METHOD THAT WORKS
When
used properly time out is an extremely effective discipline
technique for children 2-12 years of age. Use the following
guidelines:
1.
Give clear commands. For example, "Dillon, take out
the trash now." Now count to 10 yourself. If you count
out loud you teach the child to cue off your voice.
2.
Expect immediate compliance. We teach our kids when to respond
to us. When we repeat ourselves 10 times and then get serious
with the child we are teaching them not to listen to us
until the 10th time we say something. Expect your child
to obey you the first time you say something. When they
do comply, notice and appreciate them. In our example, "Thank
you Dillon, I really like it when you do what I say the
first time."
3.
When the child doesn't comply warn them only once and give
them the choice to comply or not. In our case, "Dillon,
I told you to take out the trash now. " This should
be spoken in a firm, but not hostile tone. "You have
a choice, you can take it out now or you can spend 10 minutes
in a time out and then you can do it. It's up to you."
4.
If the child still doesn't comply immediately, put him or
her in a time out!
5.
Time outs are best served in a neutral, boring corner of
the house. Do not use the child's bedroom because you have
probably gone to great lengths and expense to make his or
her bedroom a nice place to be. Use a time out chair because
there may be times the child has to be in it awhile. Also,
in a chair you can set the rule that in order for the child
to be in a time out, both buttocks need to be on the seat
of the chair. <SEE
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