Time Out technique

The time out technique stems from the operant conditioning principle of punishment and it removes any type of positive reinforcement after the client has displayed a maladaptive behavior. This is most commonly used with children. There are three types of time outs, which are seclusionary time out, exclusionary time out, and non-seclusionary time out. Seclusionary time out is when the child is placed in a different room, usually referred to as the time out room. Exclusionary time out is when the child is removed from the environment of which the behavior was occurring and placed in a different location. Non-seclusionary time out is when the child remains in that same environment where the behavior took place, but is not allowed to participate in that activity. When any of these types of time outs are occurring, it is important for the counselor to explain to the child why they are being put in time out. Time out usually takes place for 5 minutes, but can vary. Once time out is over, the counselor should not reprimand the child in any way. A variation of this technique is "sit and watch" and this is when the child must watch an hourglass for 3 minutes, until the sand flows through to the bottom, and then they can return to the classroom activity. I think this technique is very effective for young children.