Time Out Chairs Aren’t Just for Children

If you have children, you’ve probably heard of the time-out method. But do you really know what a time out is?

A time-out is not just a punishment for children; it’s also a learning tool. The point of a time-out is to give the child an opportunity for self-regulation so he or she can learn how to calm down and think about what he or she did wrong.

The idea behind this is that if you give your child some time away from everything else in his or her life—including other people, distractions, and even things like noise—your child can take some time for self-reflection. This is important because when people are distracted by other things, they don’t always have the mental ability to focus on what they did wrong and why they should not repeat this action again in the future.

Toddlers often have trouble calming down after an emotional outburst because they don't yet have the experience necessary to do so on their own. If you know that your child is having trouble recovering from an intense emotion, try giving them some space to calm themselves down by placing them in a time out chair or similar seat that keeps them away from others while giving them space to breathe.

As children grow, they learn new ways to cope with stressful situations. They no longer need time-outs as often or for as long, but that doesn’t mean adults don't benefit from them. In fact, adults may find that taking a time out chair can help them relax and focus on a task more easily.

Time-outs are beneficial for all ages because they give you a chance to step away from what you're doing and regain your mental composure. You can use this time to take deep breaths, stretch your arms and legs, or even just sit quietly and think about what's going on around you. Most importantly, taking a break helps you avoid making rash decisions or getting into arguments with others because your mind isn't focused on the problem at hand anymore!

The time-out chair isn’t just for children. It can help even adults calm down and think about their behavior. You aren’t too old to benefit from putting yourself in the time out chair and regaining your composure when you find yourself feeling overwhelmed.

It's easy to get caught up in the stress of life and forget about taking care of ourselves. But when we do, it can be difficult to get back on track. That's why it's important to remember that sometimes you just need to sit down and breathe.

We don't act like a toddler flinging themselves to the ground and flail around, you know that they are in a place of pure emotion. They don't yet have the vocabulary or understanding to express what is happening inside, so they do it physically.

Sometimes we adults don't have the words to express how we're feeling either—especially when life feels overwhelming. We can't just throw ourselves to the ground and flail around (though sometimes we might want to!), but we can take a moment for ourselves and calm our raging toddler selves down.

You probably think of time outs as being a thing for kids. But here’s the thing: Adults can have time-outs too

Maybe you need to take a few minutes away from your family and responsibilities to have some quiet space. Maybe you need to be in a room by yourself for a few minutes, just taking deep breaths and trying to calm down. Or maybe you just need a break from everything that’s going on—a walk where you can be alone with your thoughts and get some fresh air.

Whether you're an adult or a child, finding the right location and length of time for your "time-out" can make a big difference in helping you cope with stress, regain composure, and get back to the responsibilities at hand.

Here are some tips on how to use your Time Out Chair:

1) Find a quiet place away from distractions where you can sit comfortably in your Time Out Chair for at least 5 minutes.

2) Close your eyes and take long deep breaths until you feel calmer.

3) Think about what caused your outburst and how you might handle it differently next time.

Whatever your time out looks like, it’s important to remember that there’s no right or wrong way to take one when life gets too much.

Tune in on our next series: All You Need to Know Can be Learned in a Time-Out Chair- Tales from Toddlerhood