Buy a $1 store timer and magnet it to the fridge for when your kids need a time out or a little time in the corner. My daughter sets it to 5 minutes, and if her 6 year old acts up, she'll sometimes get 5 more minutes. As a back-up plan, use your microwave timer; you can even heat yourself up a cup of tea, so you both get a little time-out!
Its always good to keep track of the time when using this time out method. Many times, parents just simply leave their kids alone and forgot to get back to the issue. Having a timer can be a good reminder for parents not to keep the underlying issues in the "buffer zone" for too long :)
This is a fantastic idea. I teach this concept to parents also. The idea is that by getting your toddler to take ownership of something you get far less resistance. There are many situations where you can implement this.
My grandchildren learned negotiating skills before nap time. They were more receptive to resting if I let them set the timer. They knew that when it went off it was time to get up. Thankfully, sometimes they even slept thru the alarm!
Login using the form on the top of the page to post feedback (if you are a registered user). If you have not yet registered, click here to do so. It's FREE!.
