Brenda Rose

Cally,

That kind of a time out sounds good to me!:)

When I taught preschool and kindergarten we "had" to have a time-out chair
or corner, but I almost never (as in maybe two times per year) used them.
It always seemed a waste of time when the child could be re-directed to
something more fun to do. At home, even now with my boys ages 10, 12, and
14, sometimes I'll say, "Why don't you go to your room?" and they'll say
"How come I'm being punished?" and I'll say, "It isn't punishment and you
don't have to go there, but I thought you might like to play with something
or read or whatever instead of argue or fight. I just want you to split up
for now." Then they either go to their room or outside or ask if they can
go in my room or say "We won't fight anymore, we're in the middle of a game"
and I say, "Okay." That's as close to the negative "time-outs" as we get
anymore. It seems to bring peace. I think when they were younger they
needed more direct help, as in "Would you like to do _____ with me? [Fill in
the blank with "go outside" "play a game" "make something" "watch a
video/movie/TV" etc.]. Now that they're older they can usually decide on
something to do for themselves, though I still offer to do something with
them if they want.

Brenda