READ MY FINGERTIPS - A PROCEDURE FOR ENHANCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TIME-OUT WITH ARGUMENTATIVE CHILDREN

Commonly occurring problems in implementing time-out are described tog ether with a procedure for improving the effectiveness of time-out wit h verbally noncompliant children. The ''Read My Fingertips'' procedure is intended to reduce arguments and decrease aversive interactions be tween parents and their children during time-out. This procedure invol ves counting on one's fingertips each time a word is spoken by the chi ld and equating the number of fingers counted with additional minutes in time-out. It is hoped that this procedure will facilitate the use o f time-out with verbally noncompliant children.