Adjusting chair timeout enforcement procedures for oppositional children

Abstract

Mothers of noncompliant, clinic-referred preschool children were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 chair timeout (TO) enforcement procedures: Spank, Hold, Barrier, or Child Release. Standardized Forehand compliance training was implemented. Hold procedures were associated with less compliance criterion performance and excessive TO escape efforts. Child Release procedures were associated with excessive TOs. Neither Hold nor Child Release procedures are recommended. Barrier and Spank procedures appeared equally effective, replicating prior studies. The importance of monitoring and adjusting initial clinic TO enforcement procedures was documented. Noncompliant children who resisted TO displayed significantly less improvement in compliance than noncompliant children who accepted TO. Group data were obtained in the home setting across a four-week period. Most children displayed near-zero levels of TO resistance within 3 weeks in the home.