I have a 3-year-old daughter. What are the do’s and don’ts for a successful time-out?

It can be frustrating when your toddler misbehaves. But it’s important to try to practice positive discipline since it:

• Requires loving affection, which makes your child want to behave
• Calls for consistent punishment when your child misbehaves
• Models the self-control you want your children to learn

Practice positive discipline when your toddler misbehaves.

When your child acts up, make sure that consequences follow quickly, and pick a punishment that fits the misbehavior. Next time your toddler misbehaves, try the “time-out” method. Time-out is a type of discipline that is used to stop a child from performing a bad behavior and give you and your child time to calm down. Time-out helps establish that the parent is in charge and allows the child to think about what she has done. Time-outs are useful for aggressive and harmful behaviors in toddlers and preschool-age children.

The time-out area should be easily accessible and in a location where the child can be monitored. You can use a crib or playpen, a chair in the corner of a room, or a designated “time-out” room. A general rule of thumb is one minute for each year of your child’s age. So a 3-yearold would have a three-minute time-out. Time-out should not last longer than five minutes for any child.

Explain to your child in a clear and calm manner why she is going to time-out. Lead her there if she won’t go on her own, but do not spank or yell on the way there. When the time is up, tell your toddler time-out is over and that she can go back to playing. Treat her normally, and don’t dwell on the misbehaving or lecture her about it. Keep in mind that you decide when time-out is over — not the child. If she “escapes” during time-out, restart the clock from the beginning.