Excessive Timeouts

[CuriousInMN]

My spouse dropped our daughter off at her in-home daycare yesterday (Monday) morning, and was immediately told our little one would be in timeout all day because she refused to behave during her final 15-20 minutes last Friday, saying stuff like 'Im not listening to you.'

Our child sat 7am-3:30pm on the floor next to the couch the provider typically sits on. I'm unsure if she was given coloring books, but she would've been able to see the TV if & when that was on.

One may have a decent arguement that my child may not be very respectful towards the daycare provider, but my concern is how long can a daycare place a child in timeout.

I've heard some places don't do timeouts, but most of the ones that do seem to place children in timeout one minute for every year.

I tried to look online for Minnesota laws concerning this, but I found this site and thought I'd pose the question to you folks.

Thanks!

[EchoMom]

How old is your child? No matter the age, I think it's still excessive. But HOW excessive depends on the age.

There is no way a young child is going to connect the cause and effect of I misbehaved on Friday and so I'm in timeout Tuesday. And the entire day is ridiculous. For an older child I can imagine removing priviledges for a whole day, but not to just sit in one spot.

[Blackcat31]

I am in MN. A provider cannot place a child in time out or be separated from the group for more than 10 minutes.

I would NOT be comfortable with leaving my child with a provider who used discipline or behavioral strategies like that.

Not only is it developmentally inappropriate, but it is humiliating, shameful and illegal.

Here are the discipline rules for MN

9502.0395 BEHAVIOR GUIDANCE.

Subpart 1.
Methods.

Caregivers shall give each child guidance which helps the child acquire a positive self-concept, self-control, and teaches acceptable behavior.

A. The provider shall discuss methods of behavior guidance with parents at the time of admission and the parent's standards shall be considered by the provider within the context of this part when guiding the behavior of a child.


B. Behavior guidance used by caregivers must be constructive, positive, and suited to the age of the child. Methods of intervention, guidance, and redirection must be used.


Subp. 2.
Standards.

The following shall apply to all caregivers when guiding behavior in children.

A. No child shall be subject to corporal punishment or emotional abuse. "Corporal punishment" means the nonaccidental infliction of physical pain on a child by a caregiver. Corporal punishment includes, but is not limited to, rough handling, shoving, hair pulling, ear pulling, shaking, slapping, kicking, biting, pinching, hitting, and spanking. "Emotional abuse" means the infliction of verbal or psychological abuse on a child by a caregiver. Emotional abuse includes, but is not limited to, name calling, ostracism, shaming, derogatory remarks about the child or child's family, and threats which threaten, humiliate, or frighten the child.

B. Food, light, warmth, clothing, and medical care shall not be withheld from the child.

C. Discipline and punishment shall not be delegated to another child.

D. The separation of a child from a group to guide behavior must be appropriate to the age of the child and circumstances requiring the separation.

E. An infant shall not be separated from the group for disciplinary reasons.

F. A child shall not be separated from the group for a period longer than ten minutes.

G. A child separated from the group must be placed in an area or separate room that is well-lighted, free from hazards, ventilated, and open to the view of caregivers.

H. No child shall be placed in a locked room to separate the child from the group.

[Cradle2crayons]

My spouse dropped our daughter off at her in-home daycare yesterday (Monday) morning, and was immediately told our little one would be in timeout all day because she refused to behave during her final 15-20 minutes last Friday, saying stuff like 'Im not listening to you.'

Our child sat 7am-3:30pm on the floor next to the couch the provider typically sits on. I'm unsure if she was given coloring books, but she would've been able to see the TV if & when that was on.

One may have a decent arguement that my child may not be very respectful towards the daycare provider, but my concern is how long can a daycare place a child in timeout.

I've heard some places don't do timeouts, but most of the ones that do seem to place children in timeout one minute for every year.

I tried to look online for Minnesota laws concerning this, but I found this site and thought I'd pose the question to you folks.

Thanks!

Just a few questions:::

How do you know your child sat in time out all day?? Did the child tell you?? Did the provider tell you??

I agree the provider shouldn't punish after the fact and certainly shouldn't be stupid enough to say that to a child, or a parent.

But do you KNOW for a fact the provider sat your child there all day??

I use time outs, not as a first resort. And I use them correctly.

[cheerfuldom]

this is outrageous! I would remove my child from care and report the place immediately. I dont care how old your child is, putting them in one spot all day is unacceptable by any states standards.

I personally do not use timeouts at all but there are places that allow for a short, age appropriate timeout, nothing at all like sitting in one place all day.

[Leigh]

My spouse dropped our daughter off at her in-home daycare yesterday (Monday) morning, and was immediately told our little one would be in timeout all day because she refused to behave during her final 15-20 minutes last Friday, saying stuff like 'Im not listening to you.'

Our child sat 7am-3:30pm on the floor next to the couch the provider typically sits on. I'm unsure if she was given coloring books, but she would've been able to see the TV if & when that was on.

One may have a decent arguement that my child may not be very respectful towards the daycare provider, but my concern is how long can a daycare place a child in timeout.

I've heard some places don't do timeouts, but most of the ones that do seem to place children in timeout one minute for every year.

I tried to look online for Minnesota laws concerning this, but I found this site and thought I'd pose the question to you folks.

Thanks!

1. Why did your spouse leave your child there after hearing this?

2. HOW does a daycare provider find the TIME to have a "usual" place to sit on the couch? There are days that the only sitting I get to do is the 45 seconds I spend in the bathroom.

3. One minute per year is a good guideline-sometimes longer for an older child for something serious.

4. To punish a child for something that happened LAST WEEK? Stupid.

I'd have a serious talk with this provider, if you REALLY want to stay there, but I'd more likely just find a new one. I can't tell you if Minnesota has a rule about time-outs, you can call the Department of Social Services and ask for their child care licensing department for information about that.

[CuriousInMN]

9502.0395 BEHAVIOR GUIDANCE.

F. A child shall not be separated from the group for a period longer than ten minutes.

Thanks!

My daughter is 4.

[Blackcat31]

Thanks!

My daughter is 4.

Please report this.

Also, please do NOT leave your daughter with a provider who is open about disciplining that way. Makes you wonder what things she does and doesn't tell you...

If you need contact info for your licensing agency to report, let me know and I can give you the contact information.

Good luck

[CuriousInMN]

"A child shall not be separated from the group for a period longer than ten minutes."

While she remained in the same room, she was off to the side and unable to play with the other children. This does constitute the group seperation, yes?

[Blackcat31]

"A child shall not be separated from the group for a period longer than ten minutes."

While she remained in the same room, she was off to the side and unable to play with the other children. This does constitute the group seperation, yes?

Yes. Separation from the group, means not being able to join in the group or play with the group.

She did not follow the guidelines for disciplining your child.


I also think "D. The separation of a child from a group to guide behavior must be appropriate to the age of the child and circumstances requiring the separation." applies.

Separating her for a day long time out is NOT appropriate for her age and doing so 3 days later is also NOT appropriate according to the situation that warranted the punishment.

The provider cannot shame or humiliate her either. So I think that strategy was not acceptable for several reasons.

She was disrespectful. She didn't physically harm someone.

[Lorna]

There is no way the next day or after a weekend the child is going to remember why they got a timeout. I do a minute for each year of age. Never more. That is not right. I'd start looking for another daycare.

[Unregistered]

If you need contact info for your licensing agency to report, let me know and I can give you the contact information.

If you have it I'd happily take it!

[Cradle2crayons]

If you have it I'd happily take it!

I'm curious as to how you know that the provider actually left your child in timeout for that length of time??

[Blackcat31]

If you have it I'd happily take it!

Human Services and Public Health
Child Care Licensing

Phone: 612-348-3883

Location:

Child Care Licensing

300 South 12th St MC 630

Minneapolis, MN 55404-1004


Hope that helps

[lovemykidstoo]

I'm curious as to how you know that the provider actually left your child in timeout for that length of time??

This is a quote from the first post of the OP.

"My spouse dropped our daughter off at her in-home daycare yesterday (Monday) morning, and was immediately told our little one would be in timeout all day because she refused to behave during her final 15-20 minutes last Friday, saying stuff like 'Im not listening to you.' "

The provider herself told the OP. Or her husband. I would absolutely pull my child from her care. That is outrageous. I don't care what the child did, you don't make them sit in time out the entire day. Pull her and report.