Is This Wrong To Do??

[daycare]

I have a kid, have posted about her before that has just been a handful. I rarely do time out with the kids, don't really see that as a problem solver for most of my kids....

so when a child acts out here I have them sit in the classroom with a reading book, color book, drawing, crayons, anything to keep them busy. BTW they are being supervised by me the whole time, they are not left alone.

today dcg just could not control herself at all and spent most of the day away from the group doing activities by herself. Of course she got in her morning hike and afternoon outside play to let out some energy, but what else could I do??

am I wrong??

[Crystal]

Sometimes, just as it is for us as adults, children NEED the time to themselves. When behavior escalates to the point that they are unable to self-regulate, usually time to themselves is EXACTLY what will help.
It is not mean to give them what it is that they need.

No, you are not wrong.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I do something very similar (except for they do activities alone in a giant hula hoop). My state licensor calls it "redirection" not "time out" and I feel good about that.

[Meyou]

I do this as well. I have two kids in particular who regularly need a few minutes alone to regroup and remember how to be a nice friend. I have a separate area set up with sensory and busy work.

[itlw8]

not wrong but depending on the child maybe you could do better. Every child is different and for some sitting and coloring is NOT a way to calm down. I had one that jumping solved it. we would hold hands I sang the frog song from barney and he jumped. then I kept saying jump jump jump. I do not know why but it did work. he just needed to move.

I have one that I kept a bin of dried beans. He would run his hands through them and it calmed him down.

[daycare]

not wrong but depending on the child maybe you could do better. Every child is different and for some sitting and coloring is NOT a way to calm down. I had one that jumping solved it. we would hold hands I sang the frog song from barney and he jumped. then I kept saying jump jump jump. I do not know why but it did work. he just needed to move.

I have one that I kept a bin of dried beans. He would run his hands through them and it calmed him down.

I agree that every child is different and this particular child seems to respond well to the activities I give them to do alone. That is a great point. I do try to mix it up sometimes so that it does no get boring, but the bottom line is that I am able to regain control of my group, myself and give the child the opportunity to do the same.

I like the idea of bin of dried beans to sift through.... I will have to use that one too...

[DaisyMamma]

not wrong but depending on the child maybe you could do better. Every child is different and for some sitting and coloring is NOT a way to calm down. I had one that jumping solved it. we would hold hands I sang the frog song from barney and he jumped. then I kept saying jump jump jump. I do not know why but it did work. he just needed to move.

I have one that I kept a bin of dried beans. He would run his hands through them and it calmed him down.

Great ideas.
I love the hoola hoop too. Good for small spaces.