The Disadvantages of Time Out While some American parents are
beginning to question the use of hitting (aka spanking) as a
form of disciplining children, the use of time out is on the
rise, as evidenced by the popularity of such shows as Supernanny
and Nanny 911 (read about Alfie Kohn’s views on the subject in
his article Atrocious Advice from Supernanny). The premise
behind the traditional use of time-out as a punishment is to
give the child time to think about what they have done based on
B.F. Skinner’s theory of operant conditioning, though Skinner
himself was against the use of punishment in an attempt to
control children’s behavior. While many parents believe that the
use of time-out is less punitive and harmful than hitting, even
being touted by many who supposedly practice gentle discipline,
evidence shows otherwise. This authoritarian approach is a form
of bullying. Children placed in isolated time-out do not think
about what they have done. They are not spending the time
cooling off, thinking about h