8/24/2023 0 Comments Time out chair kidThe Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed. Retraumatization is defined as “… stress reactions, responses, and symptoms that occur consequent to multiple exposures to traumatic events that are physical, psychological, or both in nature” (Duckworth & Follette, 2012, p. Some fear that time-out and those treatments that use it (e.g., PCIT) could retraumatize children (for an overview, see McNeil, Costello, Travers, & Norman, 2013). Does Time-out Retraumatize Children? General concerns Ultimately, positive parenting strategies like time-out can prevent the use of more extreme disciplinary measures. But, this new method becomes a corrective experience as children learn that discipline and their caregivers can be safe and predictable. Initially, caregiver-child dyads with histories of physically abusive discipline may experience additional emotional distress during the time-out procedure. In high-risk cases with long histories of caregiver-child physical aggression, some therapists modify treatment, for example, using a “hands-off” approach (e.g., a warning statement followed by a restriction of privilege Timmer, Urquiza, Zebell, & McGrath, 2005). In addition, caregivers’ and children’s abuse histories are carefully considered. ![]() Only later are caregivers trained to provide calm, consistent discipline including the use of a time-out chair. On the other hand, although discipline is essential for effective parenting and healthy child development, pairing high control with low parental warmth results in authoritarian parenting which is also associated with negative outcomes (e.g., problematic child self-regulation, alcohol-related problems, depressive symptoms Hartman et al., 2015 LeCuyer & Swanson, 2017 Rothrauff, Cooney, & An, 2009).įor these reasons, evidence-based behavioral parent training programs like PCIT begin by enhancing warmth and responsiveness in the caregiver-child relationship (Eyberg, Nelson, & Boggs, 2008 McNeil & Hembree-Kigin, 2010). Well-intentioned caregivers may be inclined to parent traumatized children more permissively than other children, but this lack of limit-setting is associated with child behavior problems, substance abuse, and emotion dysregulation (Driscoll, Russell, & Crockett, 2008 Jabeen, Anis-ul-Haque, & Riaz, 2013 Patock-Peckham & Morgan-Lopez, 2006). Children of authoritative parents tend to have fewer behavior problems, more academic success, better social development, better mental health, and higher self-esteem (Alizadeh, Talib, Abdullah, & Mansor, 2011 Dornbusch, Ritter, Leiderman, & Roberts, 1987 Lamborn, Mounts, Steinberg, & Dornbusch, 1991 Maccoby & Martin, 1983).Īlternatively, permissive parenting includes high responsiveness but little to no control. ![]() The parenting style associated with the best child outcomes, authoritative parenting, balances high responsiveness with consistent control. This concept is well illustrated by Baumrind’s three parenting styles-authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive-which combine differing levels of parental responsiveness and control (for reviews, see Baumrind, 1967 Baumrind & Black, 1967). Failing to provide structure does these children a disservice by depriving them of clear limits and predictable environments. Research has shown that effective parenting includes both warmth and consistent parental control. This normal, healthy instinct to provide a traumatized child with a sense of safety and security can be taken to an extreme, however, when protecting a child from all negative emotions becomes the goal. Naturally, when a child experiences trauma, caregivers offer comfort. ![]() Can’t We Just Avoid Discipline Altogether? A review of these concerns and the evidence base supporting time-out are highlighted below. While these treatments effectively reduce trauma-related symptoms, concerns about disciplinary strategies like time-out with this population may linger. Recommended treatments include Alternatives for Families: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT see Chadwick Center, 2004 Saunders, Berliner, and Hanson, 2004). Although staggering, help in the form of evidence-based treatments is available for pre-school-aged children exposed to trauma. Childhood trauma is a national concern as approximately one-half of children in the United States experience at least one traumatic event (National Survey of Children’s Health, 2012).
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