I have twin 16 month old boys who are absolutely adorable (ok... i know...). That said, I've got one who I feel needs a time out every now and then. I don't want to give a time out if he developmentally can't understand it yet - seems to defeat the purpose... but he understands when I say no and redirect him, so I'm thinking he might understand if I give him a time out, it means that I find his behavior unacceptable. Is this realistic?
2006-09-11 18:49:44 · 10 answers · asked by Terra 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
Children understand time out from as early as age 15-16 months be sure to make it a short time out (1-2 minutes) in a special timeout area (the time out chair or other consistent spot) get a simple twist timer, set the timer for the appropriate amount of time... your child will quickly comprehend the exercise and learn to modify the behavior that causes him/her to be placed in time-out...
As your child increases in age the time in time-out can be adjusted to fit their age... never give a child more minutes in time out than their age and time-out should work well.. Keep in mind small children often misbehave when they are sleepy and it's not uncommon to go back when the timer dings to find the child napping... So any time out space should be safe for the child to sleep in but do not use their bed as a time out area as you want the bed to have good restfulness only associated with it...
Good Luck
2006-09-11 19:02:09 · answer #1 · answered by Diane (PFLAG) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2
2006-09-11 18:55:12 · answer #2 · answered by Lucy Lu 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My 3 yr old understands time outs... well he understands he is being punished , but watch the words you choose. Most todlers wont understand the words time out... I tell my son that he has misbehaved and so he need to sit in his room and have no playtime for this. Keep the time outs very short... at age 3 or so no longer than 5 minutes at a time.
2006-09-11 18:58:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one can really give you a specific answer since all children develop at different speeds. If your child understands consiquence then it will work. Try putting the child in a corner when he/she misbehaves and making them face the wall with their nose in the corner and telling them not to move. Keep them there for about 2 minutes and then call them back to you and explain what they did and tell them that waqs bad and to not do it again or they will go back to the corner. Do this every time this misbehave and they will start to listen. If it does not seem to work then your child still might be to young to completely understand.
2006-09-11 18:55:39 · answer #4 · answered by dabster 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my grandson is 2 and understands time outs. he knows when he's done something he goes to the time out stair ... he doesn't always sit there on his own .. meaning i have to keep telling him to sit down ... but he definitely understands the concept.
one thing that i love from watching Super Nanny is that you get down to his eye level .. and tell him what he did wrong before you sit him in the chair. "No, you do not pull the lamp off of the table. That is dangerous and could hurt you or someone else." then sit him down.
twins. OMG!! God bless you!!! :)
2006-09-11 18:56:27 · answer #5 · answered by :|: raven :|: 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
May or may not work. My 3 year old son doesn't understand time outs. I think that they are a joke. I belive in taking toys away or spanking. I have tried time outs and he never sits for them at all. He is to hyper. You may want to try taking toys away or even spanking. Spanking is not abuse and you will not get in trouble for it. It is not against the law.
2006-09-11 18:52:51 · answer #6 · answered by LITTLE 1 :o) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Time outs at 18 months old, and you put them in a time out that is equal to the age they are, so in this case for 1.5 minutes. Put them in a place identified as time out, such as the last stair or on the fireplace or the mantle. Don't put him in a place where there is TV or in his room, he'll come to relate his room as a bad place.
Fun times!
2006-09-11 18:52:23 · answer #7 · answered by Baseball inquisitive 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I started my son at 18 mos and now at three he stays but I think I should make him stand. he sits. I make my daughter sit who is 22mos and stubborn so her first time out I expected her to be defiant but she wasn't but now she is testing me more. If they don't understand time outs I doubt they will understand why you are taking a toy away in my opinion. Same with spanking. My kids do get swatted here and there but I try to use time outs more.
2006-09-11 18:59:20 · answer #8 · answered by anjelahoy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He'd understand the cold sting of the back of your hand, a few of these and he'll grow up sorted out.
2006-09-11 18:55:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
at the age of 2 my son understood when he couldnot play with his toys in the chair. i seperated him and his toys. then and only then he understood time out. also i told him i was on time out from playing with him . I told him i was on time out cause of his unacceptable behavior. that shocked him
2006-09-11 18:54:39 · answer #10 · answered by Jim 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋