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To make a behavior stop immediately, you may use the time-out method, where the children are first told what kind of behaviors (such as tantrums, violence, or running out on roads alone) can result in a time-out. Here are some tips to make time-out effective corrective action and a real punishment for the child and yet not traumatize the child (for surely this is not what we are aiming at):
- Be calm and do not look angry or you may have to face power-struggles later.
- Be sure to be nearby during the time-out period, within the hearing range of the child and where the child can see you but don’t talk to him and keep ignoring him until the time-out period gets over.
- Children can be made to sit on a chair in a corner with no interesting views or in the playpen during the time-out.
- Children should clearly understand that if they repeat any of the forbidden behaviors, then they have to go to time-out in a place, which is not frightening for them but is quite uninteresting and boring for them.
- If the child leaves the time-out period without your permission, you may consider resetting the timer.
- Make sure that time-outs are not too extended and 1 minute for each year of age is usually the appropriate time in the beginning, which may start immediately after reaching the time-out place or after the child calms down.
- Toys, TV, phone, computers, videogames, storybooks and talking to others are not allowed during the ‘time-out’ and everyone has to just ignore the child during the pre-set time.
- When you are outdoors, give and warning first and then you may use the car as a time-out place for the unacceptable behavior.
- You may set the timer to let the child know when the time-out is over.