Steps for Effective Time-Outs

Overview

When children misbehave and parents try to correct them, feelings and emotions can get out of control. A time-out allows the parent and child time to cool down. The steps below can be used for time-out. Remember it is helpful to practice what will happen in a time-out with your child before you need to use it.

Steps for time-out

Step 1

If your child misbehaves in a way that calls for a time-out (like not following directions), give a time-out warning. Let your child know in a calm voice that they will go to time-out if they keep misbehaving.

For example, if you tell your child to put away his toys and he does not listen, you might say, "If you don't put away your toys, you are going to time-out." Wait about five seconds. If your child follows directions after the warning, praise them. You could say, "I really like it when you listen and put away your toys just like I asked!" If your child keeps misbehaving, it is time to follow through with a time-out. Always follow through with time-out when you give the warning and your child does not do what you told them to do.

Step 2

Tell your child they are going to time-out and tell them why. Tell your child, "You have to go to time-out because you..." You should say this only once. Say it in a calm but firm voice. When you are telling your child why they are going to time-out:

• Do NOT lecture, scold, or argue.
• Do NOT accept any excuses.
• Do NOT talk to your child while taking him to the time-out chair.
• Ignore shouting, protesting, and promises to be good.

Step 3

If your child refuses to go to time-out, lead them by the hand or pick him up safely and carry them to the chair. When you get to the time-out space, tell him to sit down. Tell him to stay in the time-out space until you say they can get up. When your child is in time-out:

• Do NOT let anyone talk with them.
• Do NOT let them play with anything.

Getting children to sit in time-out is sometimes easier said than done. If your child gets out of the time-out space, put them back and do not talk to your child. When you first use time-out, you may have to return your child to time-out several times. See Handling Time-Out Challenges for more information.

Step 4

Time-out usually lasts between two and five minutes for toddlers and preschoolers. A good rule is to give one minute of time-out for every year of the child's age. This means that a 2-year-old would sit in time-out for two minutes, and a 3-year-old would have a three-minute time-out.

Your child should be quiet before they leave the time-out space. Listen for about five seconds of silence toward the end of time-out. When your child is quiet for five seconds at the end of time-out, tell them they can get up. If your child got time-out for breaking a family rule or for doing something dangerous, you may want to remind your child of the behavior you expect. For example, you can say, "Remember our rule: keep your hands and feet to yourself."

If the time-out was for not following your direction, repeat the direction. Your child needs to follow your directions, even after time-out. If your child still refuses to do what you have told them to do, they should go back to time-out.

Step 5

Focus on the next positive thing your child does and give them an enthusiastic praise! Sometimes giving your child the chance to follow another direction allows you to praise them. If your child does not do what you have told them to do, even after the time-out, you should repeat the time-out. It may take several times before your child learns that you mean what you say.

What you can do while your child is in time-out

Try to do what you would normally be doing when your child is in time-out, but stay close enough to know if your child is doing anything dangerous or tries to leave the time-out chair/spot. No one should give your child any attention while they are in time-out. Do not look at your child, do not talk to your child, and do not touch your child. Make sure your child’s siblings are also not giving them attention in time-out.

Putting two children in time-out

When two children are arguing or fighting, knowing who started it is less important than giving a consequence to both children for misbehaving. Choosing sides does not allow children the chance to solve their own problems. Putting both children in time-out is better because you do not have to take sides, you do not reward the children with attention for fighting, and both children are equally treated. Make sure to send the children to different time-out spots. Then follow the regular time-out procedure with both children.

Putting a toy in time-out

If your child is mishandling a toy or fighting with another child over the toy, you can consider putting the toy in time-out (and not your child). Putting the toy in time-out can be used if you do not want to put your child in time-out too often. It is a way to teach your child self-control and still decrease misbehaviors without too much time spent in time-out by your child. To do this, just take the toy away and put it in time-out. After the time-out is over, tell your child why the toy was in time-out and then if your child is capable, have your child say why the toy was in time-out.