As part of ongoing research into the parenting habits of Britons, popular discount website MyVoucherCodes.co.uk conducted a study of 1,186 UK parents in a bid to discover more about how they go about disciplining their children. All respondents to the study had at least one child under the age of five.
Parenting on Female First
The study initially asked respondents what methods of discipline they normally use with their children. The most popular answer, for over two thirds (68 per cent) of respondents was a ‘time-out spot / naughty step’, followed by a ‘warning system’ for just over half (52 per cent).
The respondents who admitted to using a time-out spot as a means of discipline were then asked to specify in which situations they usually did so. Around 49 per cent claimed to do so as a last resort, whilst a quarter claimed to utilise a time-out spot whenever their child had a tantrum.
The respondents who claimed to use a time out spot were then also asked to explain why they initially decided to choose that particular method of discipline. According to the research, the most common reason for parents choosing to use a time-out spot was that they had "seen the method on television,2 with 57 per cent claiming this was the case.
Three quarters of the parents who used a time-out spot claimed to find it an effective means of discipline "most of the time." In contrast, just under a third, (31 per cent) felt the same way about employing a ‘warning system.’
Furthermore, the majority of the respondents who used a time out spot claimed to use the method from the age of two onwards.
Mark Pearson, Chairman of MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, said: “Having a family is certainly very exciting, but discipline is probably one of the most difficult aspects of raising a child.
"It can be hard to find an effective discipline method and stick to it, but every parent has to find the method that suits them and works best for their kids. Sometimes a little quiet time alone can be beneficial for both kids and parents - so in that respect, a time out spot can be good for all involved!”