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Disciplining Children Who Break House
Rules with Actions have consequences and Time Out Method
Part of the Raising Mavericks Parenting Course
This worksheet is designed to help parents effectively track, implement, and measure their
progress in disciplining children using the “Actions Have Consequences” approach and the time-
out method. The worksheet includes both qualitative and quantitative tools to assess the
effectiveness of your discipline strategies.
Section 1: Identifying Common Rule-Breaking Behaviours
Instructions: List the most frequent rule-breaking behaviours in your household and their corresponding consequences. Use this section to clarify the connection between actions and consequences.
Section 2: Tracking Rule-Breaking Behaviours
Quantitative Tracking: Use the table below to record incidents over the next week. Track the
behaviour, the consequence applied, and the outcome.
Section 3: Progress Measurement
Weekly Quantitative Scoring: At the end of each week, calculate how many incidents occurred, how often consequences were applied consistently, and the effectiveness of follow-up discussions.
Section 4: Reflection Questions (Qualitative)
Reflect on your experience with discipline and time-outs over the past week:
1. What worked well?
Example: “Giving clear warnings and using a timer helped my child understand the consequence.”
2. What challenges did you face?
Example: “My child resisted staying in the time-out spot, which delayed the process.”
3. What adjustments will you make moving forward?
Example: “I will use a visual timer to make the process more predictable and less stressful.”
4. How did follow-up conversations help your child understand the rule and consequence?
Example: “The talk helped my child see that throwing toys can hurt others, and we practiced saying
‘I’m upset’ instead.”
Section 5: Implementing Time-Outs Effectively
Instructions: Review and follow the structured steps below. Note any observations or outcomes
during the process.
1. Step 1: Give a Warning
Example: “If you keep yelling, you will need to take a time-out.”
• Observation: [What happened after the warning? Did the child stop or continue the behavior?]
2. Step 2: Countdown to Time-Out
Example: “I’ll count to three. If you’re still yelling, it’s time-out. One… Two…” • Observation: [Did the child respond to the countdown?]
3. Step 3: Apply Time-Out
Example: “You are going to time-out for yelling. Sit here for 4 minutes.”
• Observation: [Did the child remain in the time-out spot? If not, how did you handle it?]
4. Step 4: Follow-Up Conversation
Example: “Do you know why you had a time-out? Let’s talk about what you can do next time instead.”
• Observation: [How did your child respond to the conversation? Did they understand the rule and consequence?]
Section 6: Weekly Progress Review and Goals
Evaluate your progress:
• What improvements did you notice in your child’s behavior this week?
• How consistent were you in applying consequences and follow-up discussions?
• What is one area you’d like to improve next week?
Set Your Goals for Next Week:
By completing this worksheet weekly, you’ll gain valuable insights into how your discipline
strategies are shaping your child’s behavior and how you can improve. This structured approach
ensures discipline is both effective and growth-focused.
Breakthrough Script for Parents
Quick Responses to Enforce Boundaries with Calmness, Consistency, and Time-Outs
Preschool & Early Childhood (Ages 3–10)
Young children need clear expectations, structured consequences, and calm enforcement.
Scenario 1: Child Hits or Bites Another Child
❌ “That’s it! You’re in big trouble!”
✅ Parent: “Hitting is not okay. If you hit again, you will have a time-out. Let’s use our words instead.”
Scenario 2: Child Throws a Toy in Frustration
❌ “I’m taking all your toys away forever!”
✅ Parent: “Throwing is not safe. If you throw again, the toy will be put away, and you’ll have a time-out.”
Scenario 3: Child Lies About Something Small
❌ “Why are you lying? You can’t be trusted!”
✅ Parent: “Honesty is important. Let’s try again—tell me what really happened, and we’ll figure it out together.”
Scenario 4: Child Screams or Yells When Frustrated
❌ “Stop yelling right now, or you’re grounded!”
✅ Parent: “I can hear that you’re upset, but yelling isn’t how we talk. If you keep yelling, you’ll need to take a break in time-out.”
Scenario 5: Child Keeps Jumping on the Couch
❌ “I’ve told you a hundred times! Why won’t you listen?”
✅ Parent: “Furniture is for sitting. If you jump again, you will have to sit in time-out.”
Pre-Teens & Adolescents (Ages 11–18)
Older children and teens benefit from logical consequences, accountability, and problem-solving discussions.
Scenario 6: Pre-Teen Ignores House Rules and Sneaks Extra Screen Time
❌ “That’s it! No screens for a month!”
✅ Parent: “You broke the screen time rule. Because of that, you lose screen privileges for the rest of today. Let’s talk about what went wrong.”
Scenario 7: Teen Lies About Completing Chores
❌ “You lied! Now you’re doing double chores!”
✅ Parent: “Lying isn’t okay. Your chore still needs to be done, and we’ll talk about how to rebuild trust.”
Scenario 8: Teen Talks Back and Uses a Disrespectful Tone
❌ “I don’t care what your excuse is—you’re grounded!”
✅ Parent: “I need you to speak respectfully. If this continues, we’ll take a break and talk when you’re calm.”
Scenario 9: Pre-Teen Refuses to Accept a Consequence
❌ “That’s it! No friends, no phone, nothing!”
✅ Parent: “This is the consequence we agreed on. If you don’t follow through, there will be an additional consequence.”
Steps for an Effective Time-Out
Step 1: Give a Clear Warning
Example: “If you throw your toy again, it will be put away, and you will have a time-out.”
Step 2: Countdown to Time-Out
Example: “I’m counting to three. If you don’t stop yelling, it’s time-out. One… Two…”
Step 3: Use a Timer Based on Age
Example: “You will sit in time-out for four minutes since you’re four years old.”
Step 4: Restart If Interrupted
Example: “Time-out starts when you stay in your spot. Let’s try again.”
Step 5: Avoid Engaging During Time-Out
Example: “This is quiet time. We’ll talk when the timer is done.”
Step 6: Follow Up After Time-Out
Example: “You had a time-out because you hit your brother. Next time, tell me if you’re upset instead of hitting.”
Tips for Staying Consistent and Effective
Scenario 10: Child Keeps Testing the Same Rule
❌ “I give up—you never listen anyway!”
✅ Parent: “Rules stay the same every time. If you break the rule, you will have a time-out, just like before.”
Scenario 11: Pre-Teen Tries to Negotiate Out of Consequences
❌ “Fine, if you clean your room now, I’ll forget about the consequence.”
✅ Parent: “We agreed on the consequence, and it still stands. You’ll need to follow through before moving on.”
Scenario 12: Teen Ignores Boundaries and Pushes Limits
❌ “That’s it! No privileges for a year!”
✅ Parent: “Because you broke the rule, you’ll lose privileges for today. Let’s talk about how to prevent this next time.”
Connection Reset Digital Journal
A Guided Reflection for Parents in the Connection-Correction Parenting Course
Introduction
Parenting is a journey of continuous growth—for both you and your child. This journal is designed to help you apply the insights from the Connection-Correction Parenting Course, track your progress, and deepen your connection with your child. By reflecting on your daily experiences, emotional triggers, and parenting wins, you’ll create a foundation for resilience, emotional intelligence, and trust in your relationship.
Use this journal daily or weekly to document your thoughts and experiences. You are not striving for perfection—you are embracing growth.
Daily Reflection Template
Date:
1. What parenting challenge did I face today?
(Describe any difficult moments, whether it was managing a tantrum, navigating a power struggle, handling sibling conflict, or responding to defiance.)
2. How did I respond?
(Be honest—did you stay calm? Did you react out of frustration? What approach did you use?)
3. What emotions did I feel in that moment?
☐ Frustration
☐ Anxiety
☐ Guilt
☐ Helplessness
☐ Anger
☐ Fear
☐ Shame
☐ Sadness
☐ Calm
☐ Confidence
☐ Gratitude
☐ Other: __________
4. Did this challenge connect to my own childhood experiences?
(Reflect on whether this situation triggered memories or patterns from your upbringing.)
5. What did I do well today?
(Did you pause before reacting? Did you practice active listening? Did you model emotional regulation?)
6. How did my child respond?
(Did you pause before reacting? Did you practice active listening? Did you model emotional regulation?)
7. What is one small change I can try next time?
(Think of a phrase, action, or mindset shift you want to implement tomorrow.)
8. Did I have a meaningful moment of connection with my child today?
☐ Yes, during _________ (e.g., bedtime, playtime, a meal).
☐ No, but I will create one tomorrow by __________ (e.g., putting my phone away during conversations, reading together, asking about their feelings).
Weekly Reflection: Recognizing Growth
1. What progress have I noticed in my child’s behavior or emotional regulation this week?
(Smaller tantrums? More cooperation? More open conversations? Increased independence?)
2. What progress have I noticed in my own parenting?
(Have you been more patient, consistent, or intentional in your responses?)
3. What moments of repair and reconnection stood out?
(Think of a time when you resolved conflict with understanding rather than control.)
4. What was my biggest parenting challenge this week, and how did I handle it?
(Were you able to apply course strategies? If not, what can you adjust?)
5. Which parenting approach from the Connection-Correction Parenting Course helped me the most this week?
☐ Self-awareness of my parenting heritage
☐ Using natural consequences instead of punishments
☐ Teaching my child to express emotions with words
☐ Responding to behavior as communication
☐ Practicing mindful listening and connection
☐ Managing my inner critic to set a positive example
☐ Fostering independence with healthy boundaries
☐ Other: ___________
6. What is my parenting goal for the upcoming week?
(Examples: “Stay calm during meltdowns,” “Let my child solve more problems on their own,” “Model self-compassion when I make mistakes.”)
Breakthrough Moments
(Use this section whenever you experience a significant realization, shift, or parenting win.)
• What happened?
• What did I learn?
• How will I apply this going forward?
Reset and Self-Care Check-In
(Parenting is emotionally demanding. Take a moment to check in with yourself.)
1. How am I feeling about parenting right now?
☐ Overwhelmed
☐ Confident
☐ Tired
☐ Hopeful
☐ Frustrated
☐ Inspired
☐ Supported
☐ Other: _______
2. Have I taken care of my own emotional needs this week?
☐ Yes, I made time for myself by ___________ (e.g., reading, exercising, journaling, talking to a friend).
☐ No, I need to make space for self-care by ___________.
3. What is one thing I can do to recharge as a parent?
(Examples: Take a break, practice breathwork, remind myself that I don’t have to be perfect.)
Final Thoughts
Parenting is not about being flawless—it’s about showing up, staying curious, and continuously learning. Every time you reflect, adjust, and repair, you are strengthening your connection with your child.
This journal is your space to document growth, setbacks, and victories. Keep going, keep reflecting, and trust that even the smallest changes are shaping your child’s future in meaningful ways.
You are building a relationship that will last a lifetime.