Experts agree that all children need limits including young toddlers.
Limits help children feel safe and learn appropriate behavior for their age.
Examples of unacceptable toddler behavior might include hitting another child or running across a busy street. Director of the Parent Education and Resource Center, Sara Dimerman says that time out shouldn't be used as a form of punishment such as a type of toddler solitary confinement. Time out is more of a consequence, as a way of telling the child that because they are unable to act appropriately they need to stay someplace safe until they can talk about it calmly and logically. The real purpose of time out is to give a child a tool for managing their emotions. This is done by having the child go to their bedroom, or another quiet spot in the house to calm down.