Rethinking Time-Out as a Teaching Tool
This week, I explored how time-outs can serve as gentle resets rather than punishments for children. Many educators and parents have seen them misused, leading to frustration for both kids and adults. I discovered that when time-outs are brief, calm, and combined with teaching suitable behaviors, they become more effective and respectful (Cooper et al., 2020). Research indicates that adults who remain neutral and consistent help children quickly learn what to do rather than what to avoid (Donaldson & Vollmer, 2011). This new perspective has transformed my view of time-out from a penalty to an opportunity for guiding students toward better choices. References Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson. Donaldson, J. M., & Vollmer, T. R. (2011). An evaluation and comparison of time-out procedures with and without release contingencies. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44 (4), 693–705. https://doi.org/10....