Time-Outs Work, if We Can Learn to Do Them Right |
What Is Emotion Regulation?
Take our Emotional Intelligence Test
Find a therapist near me
Adults who experienced well-implemented time-outs reported more positive outcomes and healthier relationships.
When time-outs are administered calmly and in a safe, quiet location, the child can focus on self-regulation.
The difference hinges on intent: Time-outs succeed as teaching moments but fail as retaliatory punishments.
This post was co-authored by Sierrah Hamilton and Robert T. Muller, Ph.D.
In recent years, many have voiced concern about the potential negative impact of time-out, suggesting that it can damage the parent-child bond and leave children feeling abandoned in moments of distress. Amid ongoing debate, new research challenges the notion that time-out is harmful.
A 2024 European study explored the long-term effects of time-out use by surveying young adults about their childhood experiences. Researchers found that when used appropriately, time-out was linked to improved mental well-being, better emotional regulation, and secure attachment in young adulthood. In other words, adults who experienced well-implemented time-outs as children reported more positive psychological outcomes and healthier relationships.
Social worker Amanda Earhart, a specialist in children and youth, suggests that while these findings are interesting, the emphasis on "appropriate" implementation is crucial, and many parents may struggle........