Time-Outs
1. Select Target Behaviours – only use time outs for specific acting out behaviours and avoid
using it for every misbehaviour
Behaviours for Time Out
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2. Select a place for time-out – use any place that is boring, where the child won’t receive attention
from those passing by,
3. Determine how much time in time-out – usually according to age (ie. one minute per year of
age). The total time for a time-out should not exceed 12 minutes
4. Measure the time – be consistent and use a kitchen timer. This avoids the child yelling, “Can I
come out now?”
5. Withdraw attention while the child is in time-out – this can’t be emphasized enough! Ignore all
behaviours while the child is in time out, unless destructive behaviours which can result in added
punishment or penalty, like having the child clean up the mess.
6. Establish a connection after time-out – ask “Why were you sent to time out?”. If the child
answers correctly, then they are allowed to go back to the prior activity. If the child answers
incorrectly, they should be informed of the behaviour the precipitated the time out. It is important
to clarify the connection between the behaviour and the time out, and make the child aware of the
cause and effect sequence. Do this briefly however, do not lecture.
Flick, G. (1998). ADD/ADHD Behaviour-Change Resource Kit. Jossey-Bass: San Francisco