If your child is involved in the irresponsible behaviour, you should try time-out to make them understand the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. Time-out is not giving your child enough attention for some time. It will help your child to improve their response.
How does time-out work?
It is one of the most effective ways to teach your child about unacceptable behaviour. The young children are well aware that they may lose the chance of doing some fun activities and be with people when they misbehave. Time-out will help your child analyse what mistake they have done and how they should be correcting it.
It will help your child to understand feelings such as shame, anger and fear better than slapping. If you are harsh upon your child, it will make be tough for him to understand what is wrong.
Quiet time and time-out
You can manage your child with two-time strategy- quiet time and time-out.
Quiet Time
In this case, you will move your child away from the scenario, not the place. You can take some quiet time wherever you go. Be it any place; you can follow this time-strategy. If you use quiet time, you will help your child to
– Have control over his emotions and be relaxed.
– Watch the other kids behave in the right manner
– Observe other kids getting more attention if they act correctly.
– Will know that they will not understand love and care if they behave in the wrong way.
Time-out
This is the kind of strategy where the kid is removed from the access of all fun activities. You may let the door be open but should not allow your child to come out of it. This will help to prevent the rising tension between you and your child. If you leave the door open, you will get to analyse the behaviour of your child appropriately. You cannot perform time-out in public places.
How to introduce time-out in the family?
Before implementing time-out strategy, you will need to think about a few things
– What is your plan to stay calm?
It is essential to be calm during a time-out. Make sure you try to take a few deep breaths and relax your mind and body when you get stressed too much.
– What is the age of your child?
Time-out is the most effective for a child between 3-8years. Toddlers can also understand time-out. They even respond to the changes near them because of their wrong behaviour.
When your child attains the age of nine, you can indulge him in working in limits so that he can develop his behaviour and work in a disciplined way.
– Can I start now?
When the child faces changes in life, they become difficult to handle. In such tough situations, you can apply time-out so that he can control his behaviour. You might as well talk to your child about her feelings regarding the changes.
– Which action will be better to change?
Analyze the behaviour of your child and decide what you want to change. It is always suggested that you change one act at a time. This will help you to solve a problem efficiently.
– Will you be using quiet time or time-out?
If you’re out in public, utilise quiet time and in-home use time-out.
– How long should it be?
Remember to make it not too long. The practical rule is one minute per year of age. The maximum time limit can be five minutes. You can also use a timer to keep track of time.
– Where should the time-out area be?
Time-out area should be boring and safe. Thus, hallway maybe an effective one. Keep your child away from all kinds of toys but do not keep him in the dark room.
– Shall you warn him?
Before exercising time-out, you should tell your child that if he doesn’t change his behaviour, you will need to use time-out. If you observe no changes in the response of a child, make sure to use time-out.
– How to explain time-out?
It is often recommended to talk to your child and inform which of his behaviours may lead to time-out. The best time to discuss these things when you are calm.
