6 time-out strategies for kids that work

Feelings and emotions can spiral out of control when children misbehave and parents try to reprimand them. A time-out allows both the parent and the child to relax.

“There’s no right or wrong way of doing time-out. You don’t have to put yourself under pressure to create the perfect time-out zone,” says educational psychologist, Kim Lazarus, from the Bella Vida Centre in Bryanston, Johannesburg. Do what works for you and your family.

The following pointers will assist you in getting started on the right foot:

What age is appropriate for time-out?

Experts recommend parents wait until their child is at least three years old before introducing time-outs. That’s because children under the age of three won’t understand why they are in time out, since toddlers can’t yet connect their actions with your reactions.

Using time-out the right way

“The point of time-out should be to show your child that there’s a logical consequence to bad behaviour and that he’s being punished for that behaviour – it’s not to keep him in a secluded corner for an extended period of time,” says Lazarus. The amount of time a child should spend in the time-out corner can be worked out according to his age. So, if your child is three years old, you should keep him in time-out for three minutes. “Time is very different for adults than it is for kids. For a four-year-old, three minutes is a significant amount of time, but for adults, it’s very short,” explains Lazarus. If your child comes out of the naughty corner before his time is up, you have to take him back there. It’s important that he stays in the time-out zone until his minutes are up.

Choose a time-out location

The time-out spot should always be in the same place so that your child knows they have to go there when they’re naughty. It can be helpful to choose this space before you even start with time-out and show it to your child. Explain to him that he will have to go there if he doesn’t behave and obey certain rules, or if he needs to calm down.

“There shouldn’t be anything in the time-out zone that can distract or entertain your child while he’s in time-out,” says Lazarus. “Parents often choose the bathroom for time-outs because there’s not much to do or look at in there.”

Any space will do, really, as long as the area is boring and away from the distractions of other siblings, group activities, the television, and toys. However, the time-out zone shouldn’t be too far away from where you are. You still need to keep an eye on your toddler to make sure he’s not doing anything that can harm him. “It’s important not to leave your child in a room by himself for longer than five minutes without checking on him when he’s in time-out. You don’t want to create a fear of being locked up alone in a room, or anxiety because the child is feeling claustrophobic,” cautions Lazarus.

Never allow toys in the time-out corner

Your toddler can take a comfort object like his ‘dudu’ blanket or their dummy with them to the time-out corner, but they shouldn’t be allowed to take a puzzle or a toy to play with. “You don’t want to punish your child by depriving him of an object that makes him feel safe and soothed,” says Lazarus.

Take immediate discipline steps

If your child has misbehaved, time-out should take place immediately, unless you are in a busy shopping centre where it might not be safe or possible to do it. In this case, get down on your haunches and look your child in the eye, and explain to him that he’s not allowed to misbehave again and that if he does, you will give him a smack. “If he carries on, you can give him a light smack on the bum in the shopping centre and let him know that he’ll also be punished when you get home,” says Lazarus.

Explain why your child needs “time-out”

If your child has misbehaved, get down on your haunches, get to eye level with him, explain why his behaviour was naughty and that he has to go to the time-out corner now. “An important part of disciplining is to make your child understand why he’s being punished,” says Lazarus. “After your toddler comes out of the naughty corner, you can ask him if he understands why he had to go there. If he doesn’t, explain to him again that he misbehaved and that that type of behaviour isn’t allowed,” adds Lazarus.

Maintain your composure

It’s difficult to always stay calm in a situation where your child is acting out. “You can shout at your child’s behaviour the first time, and send him to the naughty corner, but leave it at that,” says Lazarus. “Don’t let him pick up on your anxiety or frustration. This can feed his behaviour if he picks up on it and he might start acting out even more.”