We have been using time outs off and on with Jaxon. Sometimes they work well, sometimes they don't. Up until recently, we were doing 3-4 minutes (since he's 4 years old in a month) and as soon as he went into time out, we started the timer for him. However, I'm REALLY annoyed with the way he screams and cries the whole time so I've recently started making him stay there for 3-4 minutes AFTER he STOPS crying and throwing a tantrum. Sometimes it takes 20 minutes or more for him to finally get out because it takes 15 minutes for him to get over his tantrum.

Do you think it's okay to do it this way? I know they say only one minute per age but I really don't think it's punishment as long as he's allowed to act like a crazy person while he's standing there.

What are your opinions on it?

My cousin's sons do this and from what I've seen her do, is she tells them that the time out is quiet and time for them to basically reflect on what they've done. But I definitely agree with the way that you're doing it, can't let him be that way while he's sitting there...that's why he got there in the first place, right? You definitely can't let him go and do anything when he's been sitting there pitching a fit while on time out. I'm with ya girl :D

I agree....I think time out should start when the child is quiet and not throwing a fit. If Austin is misbehaving at the table....I will turn his chair around and walk away and I won't return until he is quiet.

I think you are doing the right thing Brandi. During his tantrum he's not going to be thinking about why he was put there if he's screaming the whole time and if it started while he was screaming and he got out while he was screaming it would just be reinforcing his bad behavior and make him think he can get out if he cries and complains the whole time! Good luck and stick with it! I'm sure he'll start to understand a little better soon!!!!

I do it the same way. When Miss Q (Judy's daughter) or any other kid that I'm watching acts up and needs to be in the corner I won't start the time out until she has calmed down. I also restart the time if she steps away from the corner and dismisses herself from time out. Sometimes it can take up to 45 minutes for her to actually get through a 3 minute time out.

I think that you are doing a good job.
Thats what we do... take his toys and everything away and make his sit on the couch or in his room till he stops or we deem ready to come out and be a normal child again. He at the moment just got his v-smile back from Friday... he just wouldn't stop playing to go pee and then started yelling at me about it so.. off it went to the top of his closet.
He is rewarded with good behavior just as he is punished for bad.

I do it the same way. When Miss Q (Judy's daughter) or any other kid that I'm watching acts up and needs to be in the corner I won't start the time out until she has calmed down. I also restart the time if she steps away from the corner and dismisses herself from time out. Sometimes it can take up to 45 minutes for her to actually get through a 3 minute time out.

Oh wow, okay. Well, I do the same thing with starting over all the time because he will start backing out and grabbing toys and what not. So, we start his over, as well. I feel really bad that it takes SOOOOO long to get through a 3 or 4 minute time out but it helps that you do it the same way. Like I said, the time out's work so much better for us than spanking and other types of punishment.