Is time-out gentle parenting?
Hettie Armstrong
2025-07-14 21:16:44
Count answers
: 6
It requires you to see that behaviour that you instinctively want to stop in the quickest way possible for what it really is - a message from your child to you that they're not OK.
Using an approach like Time In can be difficult - not least because it goes against the grain of some of the more 'traditional' or 'mainstream' ideas about how to 'do discipline'.
But if you're a parent who's made that decision to do things differently - to parent in a gentle, positive and more mindful way, then this is a good place to start.
Stay calm yourself.
Communicate to them that you get it.
You might not think it would do very much but a little empathy in times like this goes a long way.
Not only that, but in doing this you're helping your child to recognise their feelings - a valuable life lesson.
It also takes time, a lot of patience, and a commitment to doing things differently.