Cool-it is a method we have developed within our family to aid in child training and we thought it might be good to share.  Self-control is one of those things we could all use a little more of and it is something that is easier to learn as a child than an adult.  We have several degrees of child training, depending on the age and offence, but one the earliest things we implement is Cool-it.  Even a young child can learn to sit still and calm themselves, before getting up and playing again.  Cool-it isn’t punishment itself, it is to help ward off other disciplinary actions before they are ever needed.

It is easy to spot when your child is about to get unruly or excessively loud or boisterous, that’s when we implement Cool-it.  When we see things beginning to unravel we place the child in a seat somewhere, and tell them they are in “Cool-it”.  We let them know that when they have rested for a few minutes and are quiet and still we will let them up again.  It depends on the child how long they sit, and they quickly learn this.  They know if they calm quickly and are quiet and still, the quicker they can go back to playing.  They are to understand that Cool-it is not punishment.  Unlike “Time Out”  they can play quietly or have a special toy or blanket, so long as they are at rest.  Time-Out is the next degree of punishment for a minor offence, the rules are the same for time out, except they are more isolated and can’t have a toy.  Cool-it on the other hand is just a simple diversion from the trouble they were about to get into, hopefully when they get up they won’t remember what they were doing before.  Cool-it also teaches them to manage their own emotions, and to be able to calm themselves in a frustrating situation.  It gives them opportunity to choose to do what is right and to think about things for a little while.  None of our kids ever fret about sitting in Cool-it, but they sure don’t like a Time-out, it’s all in how it is presented!