How To Handle a Child Who Won’t Stay in Time Out

If you have read my previous article on time outs, you will hopefully now know how to use time outs effectively. You will also know what kinds of behaviors require time out and how to create time in for God when the time out is over.

What you may still be wondering, however, is, “What do I do if my child won’t go to or stay in time out?” If you asked this question, you are not alone. Here we will explore one way you can deal with this common parenting dilemma.

Don’t make time out a power struggle

The punishment version of time out goes something like this: child misbehaves, child is sent to time out (or dragged there by a parent), child gets up and runs through the house, parent chases child through the house only to repeat the previous steps until both are exhausted and the timer mercifully rings.

This is an unnecessary struggle that can perpetuate power and control issues and reinforce the very behaviors you are trying to address. This approach also takes what was just one misbehavior and inevitably creates a series of additional issues that will have to be addressed as well.

Realize what time outs are and what they are not

A time out is simply that – the clock in your child’s day has stopped. His behavior or attitude has shown you that he is in need of reset, a fresh start. It is not a punishment in and of itself. It is an opportunity for his heart to soften.

The passage of time cannot magically address misbehavior. And sitting alone in a chair has no ability to address the heart of your child. Time out is simply a pause. The real work happens when you sit with them once they are calm and quiet.

Tell your child what you expect and then detach yourself

Tell your child to go to time out and that you will know he is ready to talk when he is seated and quiet. Your work is done for the moment. After all, your day has not timed out.

You will want to keep a watchful (but unnoticed) eye on the time out area. Any attempts to engage you with further misbehavior need to be ignored. You may want to remove other children from his proximity (“come help Mommy in the kitchen”) because even innocent onlookers can be reinforcing to negative behavior (remember what we learned about positive opposites?).

Any contact (visual, verbal or physical) will be reinforcing to your child in this state and will delay the reset opportunity. You want to eliminate all methods of reinforcement. You want to stay near, but detached.

But, what if . . . .?

Right now, you can likely come up with a host of scenarios that will challenge this approach to time out. What if he picks up something to play with? What if he screams at me? What if he runs around the house?

Remember, your child’s day is on pause. NOTHING happens until that time out is completed – indicated by him sitting calmly and quietly. He is in charge of how tedious he will make it.

In the case of a child who is walking around calmly but refusing to sit, you can answer any and all questions with this following phrase, “We will talk about it after you are seated and quiet.” 

It will work

You may have your doubts in the midst of this and wonder if you made a mistake. You may see your child wandering around the house, maybe even playing with a toy, when he is supposed to be in time out and feel incompetent.

But take a minute and think about these alternatives and the message they would send to your child: 

1. If you chased him around the house, he would get the message he can control you – this can actually make children feel less safe.
2. If you threw up your hands and gave in and said in exasperation, “You never listen to me!” he would get the message he is not accountable for his behavior.
3. If you physically restrained him in the time out area, he would get the message that disobedience keeps you close and engaged.

This disengaged but firm way will achieve the results you want, a child who is ready for a fresh start. It may just not happen in the time frame you would prefer.

Keep in mind, time out isn’t your only tool in your parenting tool box.  What works for some children may not work for others. We need to use our best judgment to decide what approaches will move our child from rebellion to repentance. Only you, the parent, will know what that is. You will learn with trial and error.

Parenting is not easy.  But anything worth doing takes work.  If you put the effort in now, you will reap great character-building rewards later.