Time out has gained great attention in the past few years. The question of whether to use it or not is not as easy as “yes” or “no”. The definition of timeout is removal of reinforcement. Thus, in order for you truly to be using a "timeout" you must be removing the child from something he/she wants to be a part of. If not, timeout will not be effective. It can actually serve to increase problematic behavior. Before using timeout, make sure you can answer the following questions.
What activity are you removing the child from? Look at the events that proceed the behavior, otherwise known as the antecedents. Are you removing them from a preferred item or activity, such as playing the computer or watching television? Or are you removing them from a situation which they find unpleasant, such as having to sit through circle time or sitting at the dinner table? The key to using a timeout effectively is that the child is removed from a situation they want to be in.
What is the purpose of the childs behavior? Look at the events that follow the behavior, otherwise known as the consequences. If you have placed a demand, the child then acts up, and then gets out of the demand through timeout, then timeout is serving as an escape. If you were on the phone ignoring them, then the behavior began, and you attended to them by placing them in timeout, then the timeout may reinforce negative attention seeking behavior. In both situations, timeout is serving to reinforce or increase the problematic behavior.
Is timeout serving to decrease the behavior? A true punishment procedure decreases problematic behavior. Thus, tracking to make sure you are seeing a decrease in the behavior is the best way to determine if timeout is effective. If there is no decreasing trend, then it is time to come up with a new game plan and timeout is not the solution.
