Timeout Redundancy

[QualiTcare]

I agree with all of this, these are all good suggestions that I use on a daily basis.

Except aren't all of those alternative methods in essence also time-outs?!

Time-Outs are basically removing the child from the situation until they are ready to cooperate again. Time-out does not always have to be sitting on the time-out bench, or facing the wall or corner. It can be sitting on a rug by themselves reading a book until they are ready to stop pushing/hitting/throwing food/etc...

that's true. time out doesn't work when it's the ONLY and most often used form of discipline. sometimes it's absolutely necessary to remove a child from a situation, and i agree, just bc they aren't sticking their nose in a corner, it's still "time out" really. i think the difference though is CHOICE. i told this OP when they first mentioned this little girl's outbursts, to sit the child down somewhere (time out) close by the rest of the group and tell her she could come and join them when she was ready. same thing crystal said about the food - you remove them, but they have the option to come back when they're ready. the traditional "time out" i think she's saying doesn't work is "you have to sit here for five minutes. when the bell goes off you can get up." the OP in this case said this child is in time out the ENTIRE DAY. that's the first sign that......it's noooot wooorking.

[Crystal]

What Crystal and I and several of the others are suggesting is actually discipline. In many ways, it's more "discipline" than what you probably did 20 years ago and do now. Most people's interpretation of "discipline" is actually "punishment". The word "discipline" actually means "to teach" and that's what we're doing--we're teaching these kids what behavior was unacceptable, WHY the behavior was unacceptable, and better ways to handle the problem in the future. It works, better than many other approaches. Sure, it takes more involvement on the part of the adults, and it takes repeating it over and over, but the child comes away with better problem solving skills and tools to handle things constructively. And honestly...since when does time out work the first time and you never have to touch that problem with that kid ever again?

Thank you for this. This is exactly wat I meant.

[Crystal]

I agree with all of this, these are all good suggestions that I use on a daily basis.

Except aren't all of those alternative methods in essence also time-outs?!

Time-Outs are basically removing the child from the situation until they are ready to cooperate again. Time-out does not always have to be sitting on the time-out bench, or facing the wall or corner. It can be sitting on a rug by themselves reading a book until they are ready to stop pushing/hitting/throwing food/etc...

I guess you could look at it that way. The difference is, I would be giving the child a choice - they can do the right thing, or they can leave the group. The time-out I was referring to is when the child isn't given a choice, they are sent to sit by themselves with absolutley nothing to do besides "think about what they did wrong" which isn't going to happen, and they sit there until directed to get up. And, generally what I have seen in practice by teachers who do use time out, is the ADULT is the one who is out of control and is highly inconsiderate of the child.

What I would do, is give the child a choice, provide them with activities they can participate in alone, if that's what they choose, and then when they are ready they can return, without me having to allow them back. I like to help the children learn to make the appropriate choices, and it takes critical thinking to do so. I am giving them the "tools" they need to become critical thinkers. Sending them to sit in time out and "think about it" does not do that.