1. Beyond Time-Out: Discipline Alternatives for Preschoolers
Melissa Johnson, Ph.D.
WakeMed

2. Goals of discipline for preschoolers
Ensure child’s safety and health
Maintain a pleasant and orderly atmosphere and environment
Teach child appropriate patterns of behavior
Develop character/moral values
Where are you in this hierarchy? Think about short and long-term goals.

3. Factors that impact preschoolers’ behavior
Health and physical well-being (sleep, hunger, illness)
Temperament (easy, difficult, slow-to- warm-up, spirited)
Developmental level (social-emotional, cognitive, language, motor skills)
Environmental structure and routines
Family relationships and atmosphere
Child’s need for attention, power, sympathy
Discipline

4. Discipline pitfalls
One approach to everything (time-out, spanking, rewards)
Too many words
Backing off / giving in
Waiting until you explode
Unclear rules and goals
Inappropriate expectations
Forgetting to have fun

5. Discipline that works is...
Flexible- adapts to child and situation
Logical- fits the misbehavior, child learns something
Is under YOUR control

6. Thinking process...
Do I need to discipline at all? (ignoring, prevention, distraction, meeting physical needs, reassurance, firmness/broken record)
If yes… -many options!

7. Natural Consequences
Allow the child to experience the natural consequences of his behavior

8. Using natural consequence
Is it safe?
Can you live with it?
Do you have enough control over it?
Will the child learn from it?

9. Logical Consequences Set up a consequence that is…
logically related to the behavior
under your control
the child DOESN’T want to happen
will teach the child something, if possible!

10. Time-Out One option among many logical consequences!
To make it work: Don’t overuse Pick a boring place with clear boundaries Use a timer Work on Time-In relationship

11. Making “Time-In” Better
Communication strategies
Active listening
Quiet listening
Pick your time and place
Floortime

12. An Ounce of Prevention Routines and structure Catch ’em being good
“Star charts” and other planned rewards: celebrations vs. bribes

13. A few don’ts DON’T beat up on yourself
DON’T expect perfection in either you or your child
DON’T blame your spouse for their imperfections
DON’T resolve to be perfect today
DON’T forget to time yourself out if you are losing it
DON’T try to do it all alone