Toddler Times
Oh, the Weather Outside Is Frightful, But So Are the Tantrums Inside
My son is a little bit younger than most of his friends, so we were the last ones to the time-out party. I watched and picked up tips along the way, knowing it would be an inevitable “milestone” that we would one day reach as parents of a two-year-old. I am sure I had time-outs as a little girl, but I do not ever remember them being the stereotypical “to the corner with you!” that they show in the movies. What I remember starts when I was in grade school, being sent to my room for what seemed like an eternity (probably 10 minutes) when I frustrated my mother. Groundings were for blatant disobeying, but “time-outs” to the room were always meant for both of us to calm down.
It worked, from the time I was a little girl to the day I left the house for college.
Heather Turgeon broke time-outs down for Babble readers in her post “Time For A Time-Out?” where she approaches time-outs as an effective learning tool and cool-down for both momma and child, rather than discipline.
The common mistakes we toddler parents make during time-outs:
- You’re constantly reacting.
- You approach time-out as punishment.
- You use time-outs for the wrong reasons.
- You talk too much.
- You forget the positive.
- You’re too emotional.
- You give too many warnings.
- You need to tweak your place and time.
- You expect a resolution.
Find yourself guilty of any of these? Read more in Heather’s post to find out a better way for a more effective time-out!
Beth Anne writes words & takes pictures on The Heir to Blair.
You can also find her on the Twitters & Facebook.
Mary L Weimer 
Beth Anne Ballance 
Ilana Wiles 
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Emily McClements 
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Naomi Odes Aytur 
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