Child Realizing They Need A Breather Break

[ABCDaycareMN]

My 2 yo is very responsive to time outs. My time outs are very basic when said child is quite and calm they can be released. I have noticed for awhile that my dd will place herself in a time out until she is calm and then release herself by saying "I'm better now"

I have my neighbors kids today and I've had to redirect for the inability to share between all 3 kids. Finally my dd when to time out for not wanting to clean up.

Does anyone have any experience with this. I feel like she is realizing she is needing a break and giving herself one. That is not something I thought a 2yo would understand and she has been doing this for like 6 months now.

[Brooksie]

My 2 yo is very responsive to time outs. My time outs are very basic when said child is quite and calm they can be released. I have noticed for awhile that my dd will place herself in a time out until she is calm and then release herself by saying "I'm better now"

I have my neighbors kids today and I've had to redirect for the inability to share between all 3 kids. Finally my dd when to time out for not wanting to clean up.

Does anyone have any experience with this. I feel like she is realizing she is needing a break and giving herself one. That is not something I thought a 2yo would understand and she has been doing this for like 6 months now.

My dd is also 2 and doesn't put herself in the time out chair, but WILL stop and start taking long deep breaths and then say "I'm a little bit better now" or "I'm all better now". It shocks me too. I don't see it from other kids her age, but I think its because growing up in this industry with parents that actually teach them to recognize and cope with their emotions on their own, that they are more in tune with it than other children. I say give yourself a pat on the back because you're doing it right.

[melilley]

It sounds like they have great self control, especially at such a young age! I do the same with my kids, they do have time out, but it's only for calming down.
I have a dcb who I call my tornado. He goes into these unnecessary scream/cry fits and we can't bare to hear the screaming so when he does it I tell him to go into the hallway and when he is done and feels better, he can join us. He will go and sit and only comes back (most times) when he is done screaming/crying...he is only 2!
It would be something to see him do it himself!

[slorey]

That's great she is able to know at such a young age! Many adults are still not capable of figuring out when to walk away and take a break! I would just monitor her and make sure she isn't using it to get out of doing things she doesn't want to do (I don't want to clean up so I will sit and take a break until it is done). Otherwise, good for her (and you).

[ABCDaycareMN]

That's great she is able to know at such a young age! Many adults are still not capable of figuring out when to walk away and take a break! I would just monitor her and make sure she isn't using it to get out of doing things she doesn't want to do (I don't want to clean up so I will sit and take a break until it is done). Otherwise, good for her (and you).

Oh she is still made to clean up, etc... She is a very neat girl. I can't leave the house in a hurry when her toys are left out. Which is good but but hard when I just want to drop everything and leave.

She is just not crabby and is willing to do it after a 30 sec. sit break.

I hope you all are right and that she is just practicing self control at a early age. I just wonder what it will be like when she gets older...

[Willow]

I think it's an excellent skill to have!!!

My daughter would sit on my mat with me when I was doing morning meditations shortly after she could walk. She taught herself to "take a breather" much the same way around two where she'd sit and take deep cleansing breaths to calm herself down. In kindy her teacher thought that was awesome and it still works really well for her.

I tried to teach my son to do the same thing but no such luck

My daycare kids now "take a break" on the time out chair where I have a glitter jar as a timer. There are times they ask me to shake it and everyone calms down to watch. I think it's fantastic when kids see that time as a refreshing/regrouping moment and not as a forced punishment

[melilley]

I think it's an excellent skill to have!!!


My daycare kids now "take a break" on the time out chair where I have a glitter jar as a timer. There are times they ask me to shake it and everyone calms down to watch. I think it's fantastic when kids see that time as a refreshing/regrouping moment and not as a forced punishment

Oooh I like the glitter jar idea!

[Brooksie]

My daycare kids now "take a break" on the time out chair where I have a glitter jar as a timer. There are times they ask me to shake it and everyone calms down to watch. I think it's fantastic when kids see that time as a refreshing/regrouping moment and not as a forced punishment

We have a glitter jar too but the glitter settles SOOOOOO quickly it doesn't really work. I would have to sit there and shake it over and over again. I mean, its settles withing seconds. and there's a lot of glitter in it. Whats your trick? Is there a secret ingredient?

[Willow]

We have a glitter jar too but the glitter settles SOOOOOO quickly it doesn't really work. I would have to sit there and shake it over and over again. I mean, its settles withing seconds. and there's a lot of glitter in it. Whats your trick? Is there a secret ingredient?

I had a daycare kiddos grandma bring me a big box of free craft stuff she picked up at a garage sale. In it there was loads of glitter and these little vials of glittery powder (sparkley like glitter but super fine grit). The glittery powder slowly floats down. I think I still have some, when I get home I'll look at what it's called

[Willow]

Brooksie - http://m.michaels.com/on/demandware....glitter%20dust

[Sunchimes]

My original day care kids, all born the same month, would put themselves onto the crying quilt. This was before they were 18 months old (I know this because I lost one of them when she was 18 months old. Don't we all keep track of our lives by when kids came and went?) I only have one of the Musketeers left now-she just turned 3. She doesn't do it anymore, although if I send her there, she will sit until she has quit crying. It isn't voluntary anymore though.