Q&A: Are time-ins better than time-outs?

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg and I talk about... What a time-in actually is and how it's different from a time-out. How to tell if your child's behavior is coming from dysregulation, a skill gap, or deliberate behavior. How to know which discipline tools will work best in each unique situation. The difference between co-regulating during a meltdown and teaching a behavioral boundary (and how to know when to use each). How to use time-outs as a teaching tool, not a punishment. How developmental stages affect behaviors like hitting, tantrums, and defiance—and what realistic expectations to set. Why trying to find the "perfect parenting script" often makes discipline harder. The one question to ask yourself that will help you decide what to do in the moment. If you've ever found yourself wondering whether you should comfort your child, correct the behavior, or step away entirely, this episode will help you zoom out, understand what's really going on underneath the behavior, and respond more intentionally. REFERENCES AND RELATED RESOURCES: 🔗 Longitudinal Relationship Between Time-Out and Child Emotional and Behavioral Functioning 👉 Feeling confused about discipline strategies like time-ins, time-outs, and consequences? Visit drsarahbren.com/timeout to download my ✨FREE✨ Discipline Guide to learn when and how to use these tools in a way that actually supports your child's development while reducing power struggles at home. This guide breaks down how to respond to common behaviors like tantrums, hitting, and defiance so you can feel more confident in the moment. 📚 The Tantrum Survival Guide: Tune In to Your Toddler's Mind (and Your Own) to Calm the Craziness and Make Family Fun Again by Rebecca Schrag Hershberg, PhD CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE: 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about using your child's brain, body and nervous system to guide your parenting Dr. Mona Delahooke 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about the psychology behind dysregulation with founder of Parenting Translator Cara Goodwin 🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about how to integrate effective discipline that prioritizes emotional and mental health with Sarah R. Moore WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU: Go to to send us a question or a topic you want to hear us answer on Securely Attached - Beyond the Sessions!

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Q&A: Are time-ins better than time-outs? is an episode from Securely Attached by Dr. Sarah Bren.

This episode is 25:49 long.

This episode was published on Apr 2, 2026.

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