Timeout is a temporary, artificial, and inadequate solution to a real problem. Worse, it actually prevents us from seeing the real problem, because when kids feel judged and rejected, they tend to clam up (as we all do). In truth, timeout is the exact opposite of what our children need when their behavior hits the skids. Defiance, aggression and other limit pushing behavior are our children’s way of letting us know their impulses have taken hold. We successfully handle challenging behavior by following these steps:*Focus on helping our children when they can’t help themselves, *Set limits calmly and early, expect impulsivity, *Be ready to physically follow through with limits by preventing unsafe or inappropriate behavior, *Accept and acknowledge feelings without judgment, so that children can trust us as their empathic leaders and themselves as good people.