The player picks up the big red ball and dribbles across the floor. His dribbling skills are poor, so he uses both hands to bounce the ball off the floor, back into his hands. A few times the player loses control of the ball, but then picks it up and continues moving down the floor. When he gets to the end of the floor, he shoots the ball…into a vase standing on the living room coffee table. The boy’s mother then runs into the room, forming a “T” with her hands. Recognizing the signal, the player then heads toward the KidKraft rocking chair in the corner of the room.

Many parents in Berlin Ohio and throughout the world, use time-outs with their children, as form of punishment for behavior that is improper (i.e. biting, hitting, disobeying, etc.). Time-outs separate children from other people, for a short period of time. While this is an effective practice for children aged 18 months to 10-years old, certain guidelines should be followed when using time-outs and time-out chairs:

1. Set the expectations. Whether you live in Holmes County Ohio or elsewhere, it important that you set the time-out rules at the start, and that your child understands them. Put them in writing, so there is a permanent record of them. Then place the time-out chair somewhere the child cannot have fun (i.e. talk with other kids, play with toys, watch TV, etc.) You could use a KidKraft rocking chair, as the child should be isolated, but not uncomfortable. Also, use a small timer to make sure that the time-out lasts for an exact time.

2. Perfect practice makes perfect. As the great NFL football coach Vince Lombardi once stated, “Perfect practice makes perfect.” When your child Holmes County Ohio or elsewhere is in a good mood, do a time-out dry run. Tell the child that the timer will not start, and that he or she cannot leave the chair until the time is up. Do “perception checking” to make sure that the child understands these two rules.

3. Interact before sending. Whether you live in Holmes County Ohio or another county, it is important to interact when your child when sending him or her to the time-out chair. Explain why you are sending the child there. You also may need to lead or carry your little one to the chair. When carrying the child, carry him or her away from you, so the gesture is not confused as a hug.

4. Timing is everything. Experts in Amish County Ohio and other states generally recommend that a child be sent to the time-out chair one minute, for each year of his age. The maximum time should be five minutes. If the child is out of control, give your tot an initial minute to gain self-control. Also, if the child refuses to talk to you, or uses an angry tone, reset the timer. When the child “serves” the full amount of time agreed upon, use positive reinforcement by reminding him or her what behavior you want to see.

5. A clean slate. After the time-out has been served, do not talk about the incident that resulted in the time-out. Give the child a fresh start and make sure to praise his or her behavior shortly afterwards.

Like a time-out in a sports game gives teams a chance to regroup, a time-out for children in Holmes County Ohio or elsewhere gives them a chance to reflect on their improper behavior. Experts agree that when used properly, this method is quite effective. However, use a quality KidKraft rocking chair so the time-out seat itself is never a punishment.