on discipline timeouts
My standard discipline policy for Recreational gymnasts is an escalating series of penalties:
1) warning
2) second warning
3) 2 minute timeout
4) 5 minute timeout
5) meet with parent
… Some psychologists do believe that if you practice good “positive discipline” techniques, by stating facts rather than demands, using distraction to steer kids away from danger, and working out solutions as a family, you shouldn’t need timeouts, or at least not very often. And timeouts can be ineffective, psychologically damaging, and make behavioral problems worse. …
Yet …
… plenty of research suggests that timeouts are safe and useful when parents employ them properly and in the right situations. …
Slate – Are Timeouts Messing Up Your Kids?
Only if you’re doing them wrong. (And yes, you probably are.)
An interesting read.
Recreational Gymnastics 
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