Please Explain Time Out to Me: A Story for Children and Do-it-Yourself Manual for Parents

Laurie Zelinger · Fred Zelinger

Please Explain to Me! Book 4 · Loving Healing Press

About this ebook

Time Out is a dignified and effective method of discipline, endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association. This book, written by parenting experts, explains the Time Out process and provides step-by-step instructions for its proper and effective use. Please Explain Time Out To Me is two books in one: an engaging story with colorful illustrations and a parent section which describes the Time Out process in detail, as well as the advantages and pitfalls of other methods of discipline.

Children will:

Enjoy the story and illustrationsUnderstand how Time Out worksEmpathize with the characters in the bookBe treated respectfully when given a consequenceExperience the benefits of Time Out as a mechanism of behavior change

Parents and caregivers will:

Develop a plan for supplying responses to their child’s unacceptable behaviorUnderstand the rationale behind Time-Out as a management techniqueLearn how to use Time Out effectivelyBetter handle behavioral issues wherever they occurLearn that physical forms of punishment do not work

Drs. Zelinger book is clearly informed by literature and both clinical and personal experience. Its simplicity and ease-of-use and understanding allows for broad reach to all parents that face the normal challenges in raising children. The story to help the child understand makes this book unique, as well as the “fixer box” concept. Behavioral difficulties often stem from struggles around feeling in control. This book gives a concrete, more adaptive path for both parents and child to feel in control.
-- David Salsberg, PsyD, DABPS Clinical Neuropsychologist; Director, Pediatric Assessment, Learning & Support (PALS), New York, NY.

In Please explain Time Out To Me, Drs. Laurie and Fred Zelinger offer a clear, concise and insightful look at the often misunderstood and misinterpreted concept of time out. Combining colorful illustrations and story line for children and step-by-step guidelines and principles for parents and adults, the book has unique appeal to both. I highly recommend this book, particularly to parents foraging through the tangled, complicated and sometimes scary web called parenthood.
-- Iris Ackerman, LCSW, PhD, Clinical Social Worker

As a child psychiatrist, finding parenting books that are straightforward, helpful, and concise is a rare find indeed. Drs. Laurie and Fred Zelinger offer just that in Please Explain Time Out To Me. In its pages, they harness their expert clinical experience and judgment and offer it in a relatable, engaging, and entertaining way. I highly recommend this book to families who are struggling with the difficult journey of growing up and managing problem behaviors along the way.
-- Stephen Perret, MD., Child Psychiatrist

Thumbs up for Drs. Zelinger’s book on explaining time out to kids. As a busy working mom with six children, I have used time out effectively. I would recommend reading this book to help understand the benefits of time out for both parents and children, and the effectiveness of time-out as a learning tool. Drs. Zelinger’s thought out story will be a helpful, useful contribution for kids, parents and teachers.
-- Chani Jacobowitz, LCSW; Mother of 6

From the Please Explain To Me... series

Learn more at www.DrZelinger.com

From Loving Healing Press www.LHPress.com

Ratings and reviews

An excellent graphic and written book explaining how time out works from a child's prospective. Jackson is the main character who portrays a normal child with routine temper flare ups and how by giving him time out to calm down and contemplate his actions has a positive outcome. It also demonstrates how parents should deal with the child once they have sent them to the time out zone. There is no threatening or menacing behavior displayed at all by the parents, just staying calm and collected and recognizing when the child has calmed down, that is the correct time to talk through the situation and give a full explanation. The great cartoon graphics are ideal for the child to understand and then at the back of the book there is in depth analysis and further information for a parent to follow outlying the positives and negatives of your actions. This is the third book I have read by the authors and yet again it hits all the marks in explaining the specific subject to your child. This book can be kept as the principles will never change and you could find your children using it on your grand children.

The first half of this delightful little picture book is for kids, from a typical elementary schoolboy’s point of view. Our young hero covers the situations in which a wise parent or teacher will apply the behavior management technique of “time out,” very much from how it feels for the child. We follow his progression from resentment to acceptance, and then to a positive use of the situation, and see how his motivation changes. What is better, a child reading the book, or listening to an adult reading it, will learn these lessons, with a few laughs on the way. Then there is a detailed instructional section for parents. If the principles of this book are conscientiously applied, they will result in well-behaved children who grow into resilient, mentally healthy adults.

As I am typing this review my oldest is currently on time out with not ipad or computer games. After reading this book I realise my actions toward positive and negative behaviour need to change and not let the children rule the roost so to speak! This Please Explain is once again filled with colourful illustrations and packed with helpful information for parents regarding the concept of time out. I have to admit I have often felt baffled with the principle of time out and worried I have been doing it wrong (which I have Positive Punishment for example!) Not only does this book have information for parents but the story for the children is clear and concise so they know exactly what is expected from a time out, and the story that is being told is one that many families will be familiar with. I recommend this book to families who may be struggling with the time out concept as it will help with understanding the benefits of a time out and its effectiveness.

About the author

Dr. Laurie Zelinger is a Board Certified Psychologist with a specialty in School Psychology, and a Registered Play Therapist with over 40 years' experience working with children. She is a licensed New York State psychologist who, after retiring from a Long Island public school system, is now devoting her time exclusively to writing and her busy private practice. Her previous books include: Please Explain Anxiety to Me: Simple Biology and Solutions for Children and Parents; Please Explain Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy to Me: A Complete Guide to Preparing Your Child for Surgery; Please Explain Terrorism to Me! A Story for Children, P-E-A-R-L-S of Wisdom for Their Parents and A Smart Girl's Guide to Liking Herself Even On The Bad Days for American Girl. Dr. Laurie was an officer in the nationally based American Academy of School Psychology and Director on the Executive Board of the New York Association of Play Therapy. As a media referral specialist for the American Psychological Association, she has contributed to nearly 200 news stories regarding child development. Dr. Laurie and her psychologist husband, Dr. Fred, are both certified Red Cross Disaster Mental Health volunteers. Happily married for nearly 40 years, they have raised four children and relish their roles as grandparents.

Dr. Frank (Fred) Zelinger is a licensed psychologist and certified School District Administrator with over 45 years' professional experience. He has integrated his analytically based Doctoral training from New York University with a variety of life experiences that include raising four sons; working as a school psychologist; running a public elementary school as its Principal; being District Chairperson of the Committee on Special Education; owning and operating several retail establishments; coaching four sports over a period of four decades; consulting in a private religious Day School; enjoying "sixties" music; playing guitar, golf, cards, and racquetball, and maintaining a vibrant and busy private practice as a clinical psychologist. To some degree, Dr. Fred Zelinger credits this diversity of life experience to his ability to understand and develop practical approaches to the needs of his patients. Born in Germany as the first son of concentration camp survivors, his sensitivity to underlying cultural values has a prominent place in the often-short term and pragmatic solutions he helps his diverse clients develop in response to the many issues and concerns that face them in this complicated world. Dr. Fred appreciates the importance of family and supports others in their personal and professional relationships. This, his first book, was a collaborative effort with Laurie, his wife of nearly 40 years. It is based on research as well as firsthand experience, with the hope that other parents can profit from the information they share.

Visit them at www.DrZelinger.com