Too Young for Time-outs?

Re: Too Young for Time-outs?

• lalabee0425

  October 2010

  DUDE. It's just a time out! And it's at home, NOT at preschool. I think  you are right on the money teaching him that that type of behavior is not acceptable and there will be consequences for acting that way. He is not too young if he actually sits there. And I'm assuming you are telling him why he is in time out and that he can't behave that way. You are teaching him how to behave and you have to start when they are little. They are smart little suckers and understand a WHOLE lot and learn at such a young age to test boundaries and see what they can get away with. Good for you! I see absolutely nothing wrong with that.
  

  /"><

  Report0 Reply
• Loading the player...
• MrsHughesNC member

  October 2010

  I don't think it's too young at all. We've actually been using them with Holly since she was about 15-16 mos old. I got the same response you did from some people when I said we started that early. But, she knows exactly what timeout means. We try not to overuse timeouts--just when other methods fail. And we always follow through if we threaten them. We correct her behavior once, if she does it again, we correct and and tell her the next time she does it, she's going to timeout. When she does it again, we tell her why she's going into timeout. Almost all the time, she stays seated. Occasionally she doesn't, but we just keep placing her back down, without speaking to her..Luckily, we don't have to go that route very much.
  

  But anyway, her DC uses them too, starting with the class she's in now (1-2 yrs). They're a very highly regarded school, so I personally throw your MIL's opinion out the window too. :-) They've tought me how much most people underestimate toddlers, with what they teach, and their methods of doing a lot of things that I'd have never thought they'd understand at her age. They've proven me wrong each time! (Not that I ever challenged them. hehe)

  I say go with your mommy instinct (on this and everything else!)
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  Report0 Reply
• QCBride06

  October 2010

  Thanks ladies.  I agree, its just time-out!  My thought is even she didnt agree with me then she should have just not said anything.....  And yes, I tell him why and have him sit for like a minute and then when he gets up if he continues I put him right back.  I am just trying to be consistent at this point.  They totally get more then we give them credit for!
  

  

  Report0 Reply
• raceyrae

  October 2010

  I don't think it's too young at all.  We started around 17 mo. old with 1 1/2 min timeouts. 

  
  
  

  Report0 Reply
• starz080

  October 2010

  We started around 15-16 months and it's worked out well.  She definitely understands what's going on and I don't think it's too early for children to learn consequences (if they can fully understand it).  Our pedi actually recommended it at 12 months, but we held off for a little while.  I wouldn't mind it if preschool/DC enforced it as well.
  

  Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml

  Report0 Reply
• Heels.Fan03

  October 2010

  I don't think it's too young - we started doing timeout a few weeks ago and they actually seem to work pretty well with Jack. We only resort to time out when all else fails and/or he has done something extreme, like hitting/biting, throwing things. I had read somewhere that you should put them in timeout for a minute for each year of their age, so we leave Jack there for approx. a minute. He does sit there, but cries his eyes out so he knows he has really done something wrong. At first, I didn't think he would sit still, but I've learned he understands far more than I think he does!

  Report0 Reply