ABSTRACT
Time-outs have long been taught by parent educators as a form of logical consequences to stop undesirable child behaviors, such as screaming, fighting, or throwing temper tantrums. Physiological soothing is necessary for children and parents to calm down enough for parents to be able to discuss upsetting behavior with their children. Therapists have long recommended time-outs, yet parents often struggle with both understanding how to utilize time-out procedures, as well as consistency in the use of the time-outs. Therapists must also assess the "softer side of hierarchy", which involves the warm and nurturing aspects of parent-child relationships. Therapists should follow-up with parents to learn how successful they are in using time-out procedures at home. "Time-out" is a discipline procedure that parents have used in various forms for generations. The time-out procedure must be utilized consistently to be effective. Polson recommends starting with no more than three rules for younger children, but older children can understand and integrate more complicated versions of the home rules.
