Not really. Time out is an immediate consequence to bad behavior. Removing priviledges is long term reinforcement. There is no bargaining unless you allow the child to chose time-out or a loss of priviledges. The key to time-out is that it has to occur immediately even if it interferes with everyone else's good time.
Dear Labyrinthos,
"The key to time-out is that it has to occur immediately even if it interferes with everyone else's good time."
I agree.
From our experience, here are some other important elements for the effectiveness of the time-out:
- It must be able to occur anywhere, at any time. My older son was absolutely horrified to be timed-out by my wife in the Philadelphia Children's Museum, in front of literally hundreds of people.
- Time-outs must be done in a way to deny the child of any further attention or interaction for the length of the time-out. One doesn't time-out one's child and then yammer at them through the time-out. It sorta ruins the whole experience.
sitetest
To repeat from another:
This article implies otherwise. Most people were doing this kind of bargaining/bribing, and "most people" were dissatisfied with results. Perhaps you were just lucky to have naturally amiable, calm kids.