Time-Out Procedures in School Settings

Time-out is a consequence-based strategy that includes altering a child’s environment such that he or she has relatively less contact with reinforcement, contingent upon a target behavior. Time-out may be considered a type of negative punishment procedure because it includes the removal of reinforcing stimuli, resulting in a decrease in the future frequency of a target behavior. This chapter describes time-out and several notable variations of time-out that range along a continuum of intrusiveness. In addition, procedural elements commonly incorporated within time-out are briefly described, followed by additional considerations when using time-out in school settings.