Is this considered child abuse?

Question

If you send your kid to their room, would it be considered cruelty towards your child if they are 3 years old?

I had someone tell me it's cruelty towards your child to send them to their room and make them shut the door.

Answer 1

Are you serious? Is this what people are thinking now?
NO, it is NOT child abuse. Is it leaving bruises any way on your child? Then, NO.

What is this world going to be in a few years if people keep feeling this badly over children being disciplined. Soon, EVERYTHING is going to be child abuse. Even not letting your child run out in a street and getting run over by a bus will be considered "child abuse" because teaching a child right from wrong is "oh so much cruelty" to children. and it "hurts their little feelings".

Please.

Who told you this?

Answer 2

It is not cruelty at all. Perhaps, someone was under the impression that it was somehow psychological abuse. In other situations, like in a school or daycare setting this type of punishment can be interpreted as abusive. Not in the home though.

Though, I do have to say that the "time out" place should be separate from where a child sleeps and plays. You don't want to make them apprehensive about going into their room. A bedroom should be a positive place for a child. You don't want to encourage sleep problems, or phobias about monsters in closets.

Remember it's one minute of time-out per year of age. Time-out should be more about removal of privileges, being taken away from what's fun and reinforcing. A time-out stool with a timer close by is more preferable. In no which way are you abusing your child with a time out. Whoever told you that is simply wrong.

Answer 3

Definatly not! Everyone needs a time out sometimes. Even adults need a time out. I think it is important to make sure they know what they did wrong first. Never assume they know. You can give them a job to do while they are there, such as "I want you to think about some things you can do next time to avoid this happening again." Then discuss it later. You can discuss with a 3 year old. I do it every day. Also, ask yourself what you plan to accomplish with your child in the discipline of your choice. Will they understand? What will they get out of it? Will it be a learning and growing experience or just sitting in the room thinking about whatever? For instance if they make a mess they should clean it up. This will help them understand how to take responsibility for their decisions, that next time they may sit and ask themselves if cleaning up after they are done will be worth it and so on. This teaches responsibility and helps your child to learn right from wrong and why it is right or wrong. Good Luck.

Answer 4

I say no. I send my 3 year old to his room. My daughter will be 1 and sometimes if she fussy and won't stop fussing for no reason, i go with her to her room, sit her on her bed i have to stay in there because she doesn't quite understand it yet. Until she's stops fussing she can't get off her bed. But i've had people to tell me that if you send them to their room for punishment, then if you tell them to go play in their room they will think they're being punished. My son knows if he's bad and i say go to your room it means no toys or tv. If i just say go to your room and play he knows he's not in trouble. I'm a younger parent myself, but you know i've see it more and more everyday usually its the younger ones(please don't attack me for this, everyone does it, but the youngers i've seen do it more) it's easier to let them do what they want when they want instead of waste time trying to make them behave, because as all parents know, its a tough battle to get a 2 or 3 year old to behave. But its worth it when they start school, or grow up and you don't have to worry about phone calls everyday. So don't mind what anyone else tells you about punishing your child. Punishment is good. Also any punish a parent finds acceptable is ok as long as it doesn't harm the child in a danagerous way(leave bruise, burns, etc.)

Answer 5

I'm sorry, what???? since when is sending a kid to their own room cruel or for that matter punishment? Do you not realize that all their toys and games are in there? If it is some kind of discipline you are looking for I would suggest maybe a different method than this. Stand in a corner, sit quietly on the sofa or chair etc. All the kid is doing in their room is playing with their toys, or if they have a T.V. or computer in the room I would think that is what they are probably doing or laying on their bed taking a nap, that's not punishment for a wrongdoing.

Answer 6

Children need to have expectations for their behaviour.They ned to know that actions have accountability.I think being sent to their room is a reasonable consequence. There is no point to ser parameters if you are unwilling to enforce a consequence.A child of 3 is capable telling if they did something that was good or bad. They may not grasp the complexities of their actions but they do know good and bad. If you ask the child why they were punished they may not understand so explain why they are going to their room.Does this person have any children? Your child will feel bad they were sent to their room, they are supposed to feel bad when they are punished( it's their conscience talking) .

Answer 7

No.

In my opinion, it would only be abuse if you kept your child in their room for to long (like weeks at a time), or if you didn't let them come out for good reasons (like going to the bathroom, eating, and things like that).

As for shutting the door, it wouldn't make much since to send them to their room if you left the door wide open.

Also; as for the person who told you this, the next time they say something is child abuse ask them if they know that or if that's their opinion. If they say they know it, get them to tell you where they learned it, and ask that person.

If your still concerned, your local library might be able to tell you who would know and how to contact them.

Answer 8

I still think it's funny when people say spanking is abuse... I was spanked as a child, and I believe I'm all the better for it!

I always thought kids got off easy being sent to their room or being placed in time out. Even in grade school it made no sense to me!!

Answer 9

No way! I send my 2y old son to his room all the time and I shut the door! I even shut it when he goes to bed because he keeps coming out if I don't. Putting him in his room is the only way I can punish him that will work when he acts out, which he does a lot! He won't stay in time out and telling him no just makes him yell no back at me! So I put him in his room, it upsets him and makes him realize that he can't always get his way and that when he does act up he will be taken away from the things he enjoys.

Answer 10

I don't think it is, unless you call him 9 four-letter word names when you do it. It is often needed and appropriate for them to be isolated to think about certain behavior. It is also a realistic consequence. In this world, if they behave certain ways, they will be quarantined. You should try to give a time limit and keep it, even if you have to set a timer. You should discuss it before they get out of time out so they just don't think you reject them.