Explain why a NAUGHTY or time-out chair is not appropriate as positive discipline strategy?

Question

Guiding Behaviour-I Was asked to explain why a time out chaire is NOT appripriate (and is in fact not recommended for use in a child care setting in Canada)as a positive discipline strategy -instead my submitted a "how -to " guide to using time-out

Answer 1

Just to clarify, the time-out chair is used in Canadian preschools. However, the time to be alloted for the child during time-out should not exceed his/her age. For example, a child who is three should not be on the time-out chair for more that 3 minutes.

This strategy is more of a negative reinforcement because sitting away from his/her friends is not an enjoyable feeling. Isolating the child should be done immediately after an undesirable action, but there should be an adult to explain to the child why he/she will be isolated. Time-out gives the child a moment to think and reflect about his/her actions. However, if there is no explanation given to the child about his/her punishment, the child might not be able to see what his/her time-out is for.

A time-out is truly a negative reinforcement. It is a punishment given after an unacceptable behavior.

Examples of positive reinforcements:

1. Telling the child that you will give him/her a good mark (stamp or star or sticker) or a reward/present if he/she finishes his/her work, or is he/she does not bite a classmate (whatever behavior is being avoided) for that day.

2. Giving a hug or simply a high five when he/she does something positively.

3. Expressing your own feelings. For example a child hit a classmate, the teacher can say to the child, "Do you think that is nice? I felt sad when you hit, (name of the classmate). Do you like me to be sad? You know what? I think I will be really happy if you hug him/her instead of hitting." And then show the child how to hug and say sorry to the classmate he/she hit.

... There are so many ways to reinforce children. Sometimes, it's for the teacher to find out ways and means to discipline them.

Answer 2

I see nothing wrong with that strategy..

Answer 3

I would not use the word "naughty."  I have used timeout with preschoolers, principally to isolate them for a short while from a situation that has gotten out of hand.  Isolating a child from a situation is different from isolating the child.  When I move the child, often, yes, to a chair, I remain with the child, but behind him or her, not in front.  I may cross my hands over the child's shoulders with the chair between us, in a hold that is also gentle and a hug.  In any case, the maximum time in minutes for my timeouts never exceeds the child's age in years.  Usually, a much shorter time is adequate to calm the child down and permit a return to the group.  If moving the child causes it to become more excited, you are not doing it correctly.

I would add that isolating a child is a long way down the list of things to be done when there is a problem.  I recommend the list of 18 (I think) methods suggested by Redl and Wineman.  Several of these include: ignoring the situation if there isn't really a problem, moving closer to the child having a problem, looking at the child, touching the child (a finger on a shoulder, say), creating a diversion, injecting a little humor...

Answer 4

Positive reinforcement of acceptable behaviors is always the most effective tool for managing behavior in the classroom.  "Catch" your students being good, and acknowledge  their behavior and others will be very anxious to follow suit and win your praise.  If you say, "I really like the way John and Mary are paying attention.  I can tell they're really listening.  Thank you so much for listening to me!"  The next thing you know, most of the children will also be listening and smiling, hoping to win your positive comments also.

Answer 5

The idea of a "time out" is that it has become punitive in many people's minds and ways of implementing it.  So it is a form of punishment..that's the issue.

Seperating a person from a group, having them settled down before they can come back, and welcoming them back in is appropriate - even if they're sitting in a chair the time they're getting settled down.

Putting the idea in the child's head that it's a punishment chair is not appropriate.

It's all about how you put the perception onto the child.  Tell them it's just a place to be until they can get settled in and they can chose to act a certain way there, but they can't do it in the group.

Matt

Answer 6

Once again, sounds like a question from a professor.  This is something you should be able to do on your own, not have others answer for you. We want teachers who can think for themselves in this field and not have others answer it for them. How will you pass any test if you cant think for yourself.  Sorry for being so critical.

Answer 7

positive discipline means positive reinforcement theory.  'time-out' is negative reinforcement.

consider the 'rebel' child.  his/her primary goal is having fun.  when they get bored what they want is some kind of interaction ... preferably fun.

so what they do when bored is instigate ... they start something with someone -- anyone -- handy.  That gets them attention and they either get to sneak behind teacher's back [which is fun] or they get caught and attention is paid to them and they go to the time-out chair and then they misbehave while in the time-out chair !!  [of course ... since that chair is boring.]

{'rebel' term taken from Process Communication Model literature ... and you'll find many similar terms in other psych literatures.  Btw, PCM essentially posits that you can't change the rebel child without using methods that would be termed child abuse so you'd best learn to manage their built in behaviours.}

does this help?

[ps to Courtney R ... except that it'll fail every time with the rebel child.  repeatedly fail.]

Answer 8

First, I question anyone that can state that something will work everytime or, as in an above poster's case, fail everytime.

Nothing is absolute.  And I disagree, the time-out chair implemented correctly can be one tool in helping to manage behavior in even a rebel child.  Problem is 9/10 it isn't implemented corrrectly.  And it is just one tool, not the complete answer.  It needs to be part of a plan not a last resort.

A good discipline plan has to have depth and breadth to reach every child and the good teacher will know when and how to effectively use the many many tools and techniques out there.

And I'm sorry, "catching" them being good reinforces good behavior, and encourages it, but it certainly does not stop inappropriate behavior.

Balance Balance Balance people