[totalrobe]

The purpose of a timeout for toddlers / small children is to have a negative (but not harmful) consequence they understand so they can make a choice as to whether to continue a certain behavior or not. There are very few appropriate negative consequences available that a toddler will understand.

Punishment does have its place in behavioral training but is not the first or even third method to rely on. Parents should be first prioritizing on rewarding positive behaviors.

The criminal justice system is a terrible example of punishment used effectively. Punishment in behavioral training is best used in a very tight feedback loop (immediately after action, not after 5 years of court cases) and reliably.

[gumby]

> The purpose of a timeout for toddlers / small children is to have a negative (but not harmful) consequence they understand...

Looks like we disagree.

In general I am opposed to punishment (obviously one cannot be absolute on such a matter) but in particular: the younger the child the less agency and less ability to connect cause and effect, so I consider punishment pretty much ineffective for toddler ages.

But society is a huge parallel processing system so my opinion need not be universal.

[totalrobe]

Check out this article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2018/11/30/when-use...

[burfog]

They can connect cause and effect if you are consistent and very fast.

Proposing some plausible numbers: raise 2 to the power of their age in years, and the result is how many seconds you have.

It may be a bit low, giving only 3 days at age 18, but you get the idea. Use e to give the 18-year-old a couple years.

[abfan1127]

I see timeouts as a chance for emotional thinking to subside and return to more rational thoughts. They intervene during undesired behaviors, and provide a place to complete the behavior (tantrum).

I completely agree regarding the criminal justice system.