Time-Out Guidelines For Toddlers

The terrible twos may just be the most difficult stage for a parent to handle. This usually starts when the child is around two or three years old, and has just realized what independence is.



During this time, kids will keep on attempting to do things even when parents tell them otherwise. They will test your patience, and will often throw a tantrum when they don't get their way.



Kids are indeed difficult to handle when they hit the terrible twos, but this is also the perfect time to discipline your kids. As they say, horns need to be cut before they grow.



One of the most effective methods of child discipline is time-outs. Now, in order for this to be effective, there's a certain guideline every parent needs to follow.



Setting



Parents should set a certain area for time-outs which they will be using every time. This can be a chair (the time-out chair) or a spot in the house (such as the bottom of the stairs). At home, we have a certain spot in our hallway that we use for time-outs. I like this area because 1) it's boring 2) kids have no access to the TV or the toys, and 3) I can see them even when I'm in the kitchen or the living room.



Timer



Kids have no concept of time, and a minute may seem like an eternity to them. It's ideal to use a timer for the child's time-out so that he'll know when his time is up, and this also prevents them from leaving the chair too early.



If you're not sure how long the time-out should last, it's ideally a minute for each year of the kid's age.



Explain



Imagine if you're punished without being told why. You'd end up confused, right? Would you be able to understand what you did wrong so that you won't do it again? Of course not. This is why it's very important for every parent to explain to their child why they are being punished. In the case of time-outs, always give a warning first "don't jump up and down the couch or I'll give you a three minute time-out" and explain why the child was punished "you were given a time-out because you jumped up and down the couch even after I told you not to."





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Confused on how to properly handle terrible- twos and child punishment ? Visit Talkingtotoddlers.com and read helpful tips on how you can deal with toddlers.