Is Time Out Appropriate For Sneezing W/O Covering Their Mouth?

[Babybear911]

You did the best that you could in the moment...

I think that you handled it the only way you could in the moment.

I'm surprised how everyone is so quick to judge.

Like you, I practice manners with the kids and when you know your DCK as well as we do (caring for them 8+ hours a day) you KNOW when they are being deliberate about an action.

Is a TO the 'right' thing to do? Maybe yes or maybe no...every child and situation is different. Maybe this child just wanted to see what your limit was?

Children are very smart and I feel many adults under estimate their intelligence. Sometimes not having enough or any expectations. Children can and will soar to new heights if you let them!

You're doing the best that you can and you questioning the TO may be your way of processing it. Give yourself a pat on the back and move on! You still have many more hours in the day of sneezing and coughing ahead of you! LOL.

happyfacehappyface

[Soupyszoo]

I think that you handled it the only way you could in the moment.

I'm surprised how everyone is so quick to judge.

Like you, I practice manners with the kids and when you know your DCK as well as we do (caring for them 8+ hours a day) you KNOW when they are being deliberate about an action.

Is a TO the 'right' thing to do? Maybe yes or maybe no...every child and situation is different. Maybe this child just wanted to see what your limit was?

Children are very smart and I feel many adults under estimate their intelligence. Sometimes not having enough or any expectations. Children can and will soar to new heights if you let them!

You're doing the best that you can and you questioning the TO may be your way of processing it. Give yourself a pat on the back and move on! You still have many more hours in the day of sneezing and coughing ahead of you! LOL.

happyfacehappyface

I agree. I think some people commenting are losing sight of the actual reason for the punishment. And yes VERY quick to judge.

She didn't put him in time out for the PHYSICAL ACT OF SNEEZING.

[SunshineMama]

Well Im curious to find out what mom thinks about this.

If my child told me that their DC provider put him in a time out for sneezing on everyone's food, even though disgusting, i would be p!$$ed.

Being excused, I would understand.

They put their kids in cold showers for touching their diapers... (which I think is VERY wrong). They are on board for time outs.

[Soupyszoo]

They put their kids in cold showers for touching their diapers... (which I think is VERY wrong). They are on board for time outs.

I think as a parent if I came to pick up ds and heard what had happened I'd be pretty embarrassed. Isn't it mostly our job (as parents) to teach our kids manners?! Us as daycare providers obviously have a lot more time to drill it in their heads, but still... It starts at home. If I had done the same thing as OP and the dcp was mad at me for it, I'd be surprised, and embarrassed for the dcP.

[dEHmom]

I agree. I think some people commenting are losing sight of the actual reason for the punishment. And yes VERY quick to judge.

She didn't put him in time out for the PHYSICAL ACT OF SNEEZING.

I also want to clarify that I realize she didn't discipline for the act of sneezing itself. But either way you look at it, dck sneezed, got time out. It just sounds bad.

I think the provider did what she needed to at that moment. Who knows if her day was as crazy as mine, or whether her day was going well. The full moon sure threw off ALLLLLLL of us over here.

[mrsp'slilpeeps]

Im am not judging, not saying she is a horrible person, just stating my opinion.

I also would be upset for my child sneezing all over the place, BUT " I" think the punishment was wrong.

[Live and Learn]

Now I am wondering if that was appropriate or just a response to me being so frustrated with all of the sickness going on. He understands that he has to, I think he is just choosing not to. Thoughts???

Oh. Ok. I get it. This is one one those threads were the op titles her question "Is it appropriate to" blah, blah, blah and asks for "thoughts???" ....but then when she is offered "thoughts" that do not agree with her actions she gets riled up.

Got it.

[magsgma]

Do you think time out is an appropriate disciplinary action for a 3 year old not covering their mouth when sneezing?

I have asked and demonstrated too many times. Today 3 yr old dcb sneezed all over the lunch table and everyone's lunches. I put him in time out.

Now I am wondering if that was appropriate or just a response to me being so frustrated with all of the sickness going on. He understands that he has to, I think he is just choosing not to. Thoughts???

I have read several of the replies and what I would say is your "Mistake" is lableing it a Time out. I am not sure what your actions were following that (if you infact made it a "punishment") however but based on how concerned you were about doing this - that you are generally a kind hearted provider.

"Excusing" him from the table while he tended to the sneeze and then keeping him "Isolated" as one should do with a communicable illness is not only imo the right action to take to prevent the spread of illness but necessary in keeping the other children from eating contaminated food.
With that being said I have a statement in my illness policy that if a child can not take care (cover, wipe, wash) of him/herself during a cold then they need to be kept home until well enough to participate. This is a well child care and children who need constant assistance with sneezing or runny noses may not attend. This way you not only protect your child from reinfection after passing this along - you protect your provider from becoming ill as well.

[SunshineMama]

Oh. Ok. I get it. This is one one those threads were the op titles her question "Is it appropriate to" blah, blah, blah and asks for "thoughts???" ....but then when she is offered "thoughts" that do not agree with her actions she gets riled up.

Got it.

Wait.... what? I am not riled up at all- what are you talking about? Please provide an example. I asked a question and engaged in an online discussion with everyone. What is the point of your comment, other than to attempt to "rile up" everyone. Not nice.

[Soupyszoo]

Wait.... what? I am not riled up at all- what are you talking about? Please provide an example. I asked a question and engaged in an online discussion with everyone. What is the point of your comment, other than to attempt to "rile up" everyone. Not nice.

Yep, agreed not sure where that comment came from. Oh well!

Anyways... Did you mention it to the dcps at pickup? If so what did they say?

[Kaddidle Care]

If the child already knew what was expected of him and has demonstrated it properly time after time and then sneezes all over one of his friends and laughs... then yeah, perhaps not a time out but one of sorts. Move him to a space where he cannot slime someone and definitely have a little PowWow with him one on one about why we cover our mouths when we sneeze.

I do the old "Look at my face, I'm not laughing.. that was not funny at all."

[SunshineMama]

Yep, agreed not sure where that comment came from. Oh well!

Anyways... Did you mention it to the dcps at pickup? If so what did they say?

I did not mention it at pick up, only because the behavior was corrected and it was a non-issue. I try to focus on only the positives, unless there is an ongoing behavior that I am having difficulty with. We will see today if he remembers from yesterday! (Fingers crossed)

[Soupyszoo]

I did not mention it at pick up, only because the behavior was corrected and it was a non-issue. I try to focus on only the positives, unless there is an ongoing behavior that I am having difficulty with. We will see today if he remembers from yesterday! (Fingers crossed)

Good job! I hope the problem is fixed for good too! It sounds like you've had a lot of crappy stuff goin around your place

I know how that is and it's no fun! It seems once the illness gets in, it's hard to get it out!

Good luck happyface

[grannt04]

time out for sneezing

I don't think a time out is appropriate. However, I would seperate him from the other kids during playtime and mealtimes until he starts covering his mouth consistantly. eating alone and playing alone will likely get old for him real quick.

Putting a child aside on their own is exclusionary time out and thus still time out. I agree with having a child sit on their own for issues of table manners or hygiene ie coughing & sneezing, however, call it what it is.
When a child is excluded from the group but allowed to remain in the vicinity of the group it is still a form of time out. If you do not address the issue of sneezing, coughing, passing gas and all other "cute" things children think of at the table, they grow to be teens who continue to do the same behavior.
My group made up a song this week about "eating poop" started by a little girl 5 who has parents that let her do anything she likes.

[SunshineMama]

Putting a child aside on their own is exclusionary time out and thus still time out. I agree with having a child sit on their own for issues of table manners or hygiene ie coughing & sneezing, however, call it what it is.
When a child is excluded from the group but allowed to remain in the vicinity of the group it is still a form of time out. If you do not address the issue of sneezing, coughing, passing gas and all other "cute" things children think of at the table, they grow to be teens who continue to do the same behavior.
My group made up a song this week about "eating poop" started by a little girl 5 who has parents that let her do anything she likes.

Good point.

Update: he sneezed 2 times today and covered his mouth both times, with his inner elbow, just like he was taught. The time out is a distant memory now, an good manners and clean lunch plates are in!