Are you tired of arguing with your kids? Do you wish your kids would take responsibility for their actions? Heres an easy way. Lets find out about Time Out (T.O.) using my 3 special twists. You can easily use them with kids from ages 3 to 11 years old.

When my boys were growing up, I used T.O. often. If they sassed, snuck out to play without doing their chores, or fought with each other, they went to T.O. First, Ill describe T.O. Then Ill add my 3 special twists.

Use Time Out when your child misbehaves:

Place your child in a boring room (no TV, computers, or toys.) Use a timer and set one minute for each year of your child's age. For example, wind the timer to 3 minutes for a 3 year-old and 9 minutes for a 9 year- old. Calm yourself down and think wisely while your child is in T.O. Let your child out of T.O. when the timer buzzes. Don't lecture. Your child won't listen anyway.

My Three Time Out Twists:

1. I sent my sons to the bathroom floor.

2. When either son came out of T.O., he had to tell me why he was sent there. If he said, "I dunno," I sent him back.

3. When either son was in T.O., I'd calm myself down and decide whether his behavior deserved something more than T.O. If it did, I'd tell him, "This is serious. I need more time to think about further consequences."

Why the bathroom floor?

One of my sons would look in the bathroom mirror while crying. The sight of himself in tears made him feel sorry for himself and encouraged him to cry even more. Hed see himself as the victim of a mean mom me. Sitting on the floor put a stop to that. After all, he was there to think about what he had done.

How did they take responsibility?

By telling me why they were sent to T.O., they were admitting what they had done wrong. Usually, Id say, Yes, and they were free to go. Sometimes Id have to bite my tongue to stop the lectures from tumbling out.

What extra consequences did they get?

If they needed more consequences besides T.O., I tried to make the consequence fit the crime. Here are some:

1. No bike for a week if they snuck out to ride it without doing their chores.

2. Apologize if they said something mean.

3. Write or draw what happened and how they could have handled it better.

If you want to parent without arguments, listen to your children take responsibility for their behaviors, and, if you are willing to be consistent, consider using Time Out with my 3 twists. If you do, youll have a more peaceful household, a happier household, and youll be building character too.

Jean Tracy

Jean Tracy, MSS "Granny Jean" helps parents, teachers and counselors, raise awesome kids with solid characters. She graduated from Seattle University with a degree in education. She taught elementary school in Washington, California, and Connecticut.

Inspired by her desire to help the problem children in her classes, Jean returned to graduate school. She earned a Masters Degree in Social Work from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. Upon returning to her home in Washington State, she worked as a probation officer and then developed a private counseling practice with families and children that spanned 22 years. During this time she earned a Diplomate in Clinical Social Work.

When asked how she developed her parenting books and products, she tells a unique story. "When I was an intern counselor in an old elementary school in Pennsylvania, I shared my office with the janitor under the stairwell. When the bell rang, the children's pounding footsteps drowned out every counseling session I ever had. The office itself had buckets, mops, and assorted cans lining the walls. The light bulb overhead swung back and forth casting creepy shadows everywhere. My counseling tools were broken down toys in a huge vinyl bag. Those toys never seemed a good way to counsel kids.

When I started my counseling practice, I looked for better skills to understand the kids I counseled. Over the years I developed fun ways to communicate with kids, to help parents help their own kids, and build character too. My unique parenting books and products are the result."

Jean Tracy, "Granny Jean" is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She is also an award-winning Distinguished Toastmaster and professional speaker. Her presentations, include:

1. Build Character Now! Practical Tools for Busy Parents 2. Discipline Styles, 3 to Lose and 1 to Choose 3. Family Meetings: This Special Formula Builds Character 4. Teach Your Child Success! 1 Simple Formula, 3 Easy Steps

Granny Jean's presentations are full of stories and interactive activities that will help you as parents, teachers, and counselors build solid character in your awesome children.