Tips and resources to support children birth to age five
How Do You Use Discipline to Grow Self-Discipline?
Some of my Facebook friends yesterday complained about the futility of the timeout chair. Their kids seem to view sitting on the chair as a game: can you make me sit here or can I escape? This made me recall my own use of timeout with my kids, not as a punishment but as a gift.
Making a child who is already out of control sit still on a chair as punishment seems unlikely to work. But asking a child to “take a break” and recover her self-control is an opportunity. The timeout is the same but the attitude is completely different. Instead of punishment, timeout is a kindness. Whew!
This worked for me with my boys. What works for you? How do you use what others might think of as punishment as an opportunity to model self-discipline and self-control?
Answer the question for the chance to win a $25 Starbucks gift card! For more details, please click here.
Making a child who is already out of control sit still on a chair as punishment seems unlikely to work. But asking a child to “take a break” and recover her self-control is an opportunity. The timeout is the same but the attitude is completely different. Instead of punishment, timeout is a kindness. Whew!
This worked for me with my boys. What works for you? How do you use what others might think of as punishment as an opportunity to model self-discipline and self-control?
Answer the question for the chance to win a $25 Starbucks gift card! For more details, please click here.
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Permalink Reply by Elaine Gard on -
I offer children choices. Not always are they the choices children are excited to choose. For example, when a child is expressing a strong emotion such as frustration with not getting something they want, I offer the following: You can either wait for 5 minutes (setting a visual timer) to play with ____, or you can choose to play with _____ (offer similar or other exciting item). Depending on the strength of the emotion, this may need to be repeated and followed by a gentle physical prompt. It is a clear way to allow the child to regain control without losing face and help them to take control of themselves.
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