Read The 1-2-3 Magic Workbook for Christian Parents: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12 for Free Online Page B

Arestperiodortimeoutlastsapproxi-
    matelyoneminuteperyearofthechild’slife.Timeoutalternativesmight
    includeaquarteroffyourallowance,abedtimefifteenminutesearlier,
    thelossofyourgameplayerfortwohours,orthesuccessfulcompletion
    ofabriefchore(cleanthesinkinthebathroom).

    Thesebriefandreasonableconsequencesdonotmakethechildso
    madthathewantswar.Withthisregimen,forexample,mostkidscome
    backfromtimeouthavingforgottenaboutthewholething.Andyournot
    beingallowedtobringupandrehashwhathappened—unlessabsolutely
    necessary—alsohelpsthehouse quickly returntonormal.
    36 1-2-3 MAGIC
    Easy for other caretakers to learn
    The1-2-3isalsoeasyenoughtolearnthatyoucantrainbabysitters,
    grandparents and other caretakers to use it. Parents who are using the
    1-2-3athomeoftentelltheirchild’steachersabouttheprogram.Inturn,
    teachers who use 1-2-3 Magic in class often share the idea with parents
    whoarestrugglingwiththeirchild’sbehaviorathome.

    Whenkidsgetthesamemessagefromeveryoneathomeandatschool,
    thiscross-situationconsistencymakestheprogrammorepowerfuland
    easierforthechildrentolearn.“That’s1,”whetherathomeoratschool,
    means“You’redoingsomethingwrongandit’stimetoshapeup.”

    Wehavefoundthathome-schoolcoordinationofthe1-2-3isespe-
    ciallyhelpfulwithbehaviorallydifficultchildren.Whenbothparentsand
    teachersusecountingfairlyandconsistently,andwhentheyalsorespect
    theNo-TalkingandNo-Emotionrules,wehaveseenpositiverevolutions
    takeplaceinthebehaviorofsomeverychallengingkids.
    Time-Out Alternatives (TOAs)
    Forvariousreasons,theremaybetimeswhenyoudonotwanttousea
    timeoutastheconsequenceforachild’sarrivingatacountof3.Perhaps
    thereisn’ttimeforarestperiodwhenyou’redashingoutthedoorinthe
    morning,perhapsyoufeelyouwantaconsequencewithalittlemoreclout,
    orperhapsyouwantaconsequencethatfitsthecrime.Thejudicioususe
    oftime-outalternativescanbeofgreatvalue.

    HerearesomeTOApossibilities:
    Earlierbedtime

    LossofTVforevening
    LossofGameboy—2hours
    Lossofatoy—restoftheday
    Nodessertortreat

    Monetaryfine
    Nouseofphone

    Smallchore—washbathroomsink
    Largerchore—weedyard
    Writeaparagraph
    Noconversation—15minutes RemovalofDVD,CDplayer
    Nofriendover

    Reducedcomputertime
    Groundings,fines,choresandlosseslikethesecanbeveryuseful
    asconsequences,andthereareprobablymanyotheroptions.Thelistof
    COUNTING OBNOXIOUS BEHAVIOR 37
    time-outalternativesislimitedonlybyyourimagination.Rememberto
    keepthepunishmentsfairandreasonable;yourgoalistoteachthechild
    something,nottobecruelorgetrevenge.

    Consequencescanalsobewhatsomepeoplecalllogicalornatural,
    whichmeansthepunishmentfitsthemisbehavior.Achild’shitting3,
    forexample,mightmeantheendofapleasantshoppingtrip.Oracount
    of3mightmeanthelossofanicecreambarthatwasdrippingonthe
    carseat.TheTVcanbeturnedoffifwarningstoturnthevolumedown
    areignored.Thereareobviouslymanypossibilities.Rememberwhen
    applyingnaturalconsequencesthatkidsarestilljustkids.Exasperated
    lecturesfromyou,alongthelinesof“Well,thiswouldn’thavehappened
    ifyou’dhavesimplylistenedtomeinthefirstplace”areunnecessary.
    Yourchatteringalsointerfereswithyourchild’sabilitytoappreciatethe
    connectionbetweenhisbehavioranditsconsequences.
    Getting to the Time-Out Room
    Ifthechildwon’tgotohisroomafterhittingacountof3,rememberyou
    arenotallowedtouselittleadultattemptsatpersuasion,suchas,“Come
    onnow,dowhatDadtoldyou.It’sonlyforfiveminutesandthenyou’ll
    beabletogobackandplay.I’mnotaskingalot...etc.,etc.”Whatyoudo
    insteaddependsonhowbigyouareandhowbigthechildis.
    The little kids.