They used to give criminals a "time out" … solitary detention. They also used to use the prison strap on criminals — a strap much more fearsome than straps at home or school. Sometimes they used the lash instead of the strap.

As for children and time-outs … what I’ve seen on TV (Nanny, etc.) a screaming whining kid that hasn’t learned to "obey" parental authority … like a 4 year old, 4 minutes "time-out" … but it might take a couple of hours, the first time, before the kid learns to accept the parent’s authority … learns to accept the "time-out". After they learn to accept it, then a "time-out" can be a break in unacceptable misbehavior and a kid learning to say "I’m sorry".

Budd, a "time-out" can be a very effective learning tool. However, not being able to sit comfortably in a chair sure does give a kid a very clear message too …and it can be a very effective form of punishment. I don’t think it needs always to be whackings. Sometimes, having learned to accept "time-out" a kid that is whining and "wanting" whatever they want … a time-out can be a very effective "interruption". However, for other misbehaviors — like coming home two hours late for curfew and having not even phoned … then your folks are on the right track if they take the belt to your bare butt big time.
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>What is an more effective way to discipline children: Spanking or Timeouts?

Actually, with most children probably a combination of the two methods would be the more effective. … and I don’t mean spanking and timeout for the same thing; rather, spanking for some things and timeout for other things. Also, might change with differing ages, etc.

For older kids, "time-out" likely wouldn’t be very effective if it is number of minutes equal to age. I think that is when "grounding" becomes more common … time out of number of days equal to age. HOWEVER, for say a 15 year old, a time out of 15 minutes could be quite effective in calming an argument or such. Rather than an argument escalating, it might be time for both or all parties to calm down and think.
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Need more info on age and disciplinary issue.
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For other offenses, I don’t particularly like timeout or spanking. We use logical consequences (e.g. if you make a mess you clean it up; if you throw or mistreat or can’t share a toy you lose the rights to the toy; if you misbehave on a playdate we end the playdate; if mom has to clean the living room mom keeps the toys that were on the floor; if you were climbing the tree without permission you don’t get to play outside anymore for the rest of the day). We also use removal of privileges that are meaningful to the particular kid (tv, computer, change in bedtime, trip to the library, whatever). We also use a lot of positive discipline (modeling, acknowledging good behavior). For example, we’ll have days when we keep track of "kindness tallies" and put a tally up on the whiteboard every time someone is particularly kind to someone else. The kids fall all over each other trying to be kind, lol.
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I am not saying that spanking is a good thing… Or a bad thing… I would not congradulate you either way.

It really depends on the child. My son is spanked. and he is doing good. when he is a bit older, imma try the time out thing. Not to sure how it will work out.

it is up to the child how they react either way. I would try both.

Good luck
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Anyways, I think it depends on the kid and who is dealing with them. If it’s my mom dealing with my sister, she should get spanked for some of the things she does because my sister doesn’t care if my mom is disappointed in her.

But if it’s my dad, my sister will start crying if he tells her the slightest thing. He doesn’t even have to yell most of the time. I think he kind of has a more dominating air to him so he doesn’t need to spank.

If it’s me dealing with her, I’d need to spank her because she doesn’t respect me at all. But I wouldn’t want to because then she’d make it seem like I put a knife to her throat or something and get me in a ton of trouble, haha!
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Touch daddy’s LCD TV or HD DVD player and get smacked on the hand! The child knows better now.
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Seriously. All u ever hear about that now is in a pervy sense.

TIME OUT 4 sure. You dont hear of time out fetishes now do you?
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If you mean ‘punish’, then I suppose either is effective, but I don’t think that hitting is a good way to interact with anyone.

If you really want to teach a child, though, the most effective thing to do is to let the child experience & learn from the natural and logical consequences of their choices, along with teaching them directly via discussion, role play, role modelling & supervised experimentation.

If the child is not emotionally or intellectually mature enough to learn that way, then it seems kind of mean for anyone to punish them for not knowing how to do something that they weren’t yet taught how to do.
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Communicate with children. They are not mini adults. Sometimes they forget the rules. Sometimes they may not be clear on the rules. Maybe they are testing the boundaries. Be consistent with rules. Children will learn by repetition. Be fair and reasonable.
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My parents spanked me until I was bruised and I was very well behaved, but from an oppressed stance. I also grew up to leave home with alot of anger and aggression that would come from nowhere.

Therefor, I raised my children I raise without spanking and I use rewards and timeouts, etc. They are also very well behaved, respectful and well mannered.

Both can work. You see parents who use times outs and their kids run wild. But you see the same with parents who spank. It is not what you do, it is how you do it.
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Also, a child doesn’t need a spanking every time he or she does something wrong. Spanking should be used sparingly.
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Mom with 5

In the end parents have their different ways of discipline and will believe their’s works best for them and their child.
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