so we practice gentle disciple with our 4 year old daughter. and she goes to a school that also practices gentle discipline.<br><br>
she hears other school kids or kids on the playground talking about "time outs" and i have been with her when other parents threaten "do you want a time out?"<br><br>
she has, of course, never been given a "time out" at home or at school.<br><br>
i do sometimes overhear her with toys and dolls talking about "time outs" but i've never been able to understand what she thinks a time out might be. I've tried explaining, but she mostly ignores me, preferring to make up her own version of what a time out might be.<br><br>
Anyway, she was sitting with her friend and they were trying to open a container of play dough. i had just finished nursing my newborn, and he was in my arms sleeping. the girls asked me to open the play dough and i said "sure, just give me a minute to put milo down so i can have both hands." and i got up to walk into my bedroom to put the baby in bed.<br><br>
being 4 year olds, they kept asking: can you open this? mamma? please? can you? i can't do it! can you open this please? on and on and on incessantly. in the meantime i was saying "in a minute, i'll be right there, hold on a second" also incessantly. finally their voices were escalating and i said (trying to think of as many ways to say "wait" as i could think of) "hold on, one minute, hold your horses, wait a second, hang on, time out..."<br><br>
maya went suddenly silent, then she giggled and stage-whispered to her friend with GREAT excitement in her voice "WE GOT A TIME OUT!!!"<br><br>
you'd think i just gave her the greatest gift ever. her eyes were bulging and sparkling with joy! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><br><br>
and now she goes around saying "hey mamma? remember that time you gave me and ruby a time out?"
she hears other school kids or kids on the playground talking about "time outs" and i have been with her when other parents threaten "do you want a time out?"<br><br>
she has, of course, never been given a "time out" at home or at school.<br><br>
i do sometimes overhear her with toys and dolls talking about "time outs" but i've never been able to understand what she thinks a time out might be. I've tried explaining, but she mostly ignores me, preferring to make up her own version of what a time out might be.<br><br>
Anyway, she was sitting with her friend and they were trying to open a container of play dough. i had just finished nursing my newborn, and he was in my arms sleeping. the girls asked me to open the play dough and i said "sure, just give me a minute to put milo down so i can have both hands." and i got up to walk into my bedroom to put the baby in bed.<br><br>
being 4 year olds, they kept asking: can you open this? mamma? please? can you? i can't do it! can you open this please? on and on and on incessantly. in the meantime i was saying "in a minute, i'll be right there, hold on a second" also incessantly. finally their voices were escalating and i said (trying to think of as many ways to say "wait" as i could think of) "hold on, one minute, hold your horses, wait a second, hang on, time out..."<br><br>
maya went suddenly silent, then she giggled and stage-whispered to her friend with GREAT excitement in her voice "WE GOT A TIME OUT!!!"<br><br>
you'd think i just gave her the greatest gift ever. her eyes were bulging and sparkling with joy! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><br><br>
and now she goes around saying "hey mamma? remember that time you gave me and ruby a time out?"
