Mom’s ‘time-out’ method to handle toddler’s tantrums is the perfect example of ‘gentle parenting’

Every parent has their own approach to handling toddler tantrums, shaped by experiences of what works best for their little one. While some try to distract the child, others opt for gentle conversation. These situations can often be very exhausting and challenging for the parents; the key is finding the most effective way to soothe the child. For instance, a mom on TikTok, Jowen (@livjowen), came up with a thoughtful time-out approach to deal with her toddler’s tantrums. The trick has caught the attention of social media users, who praised the woman for her gentle approach.

In the video, a mom gently asks her toddler to throw a spoon into the trash. But the little one starts crying and drops the spoon on the floor. The mother makes him pick it up and try again. The little boy continues to cry more, but his mother doesn’t react with frustration or anger. Instead, she chooses a gentle parenting approach by asking him to sit in one place alone for a while. When the timer goes off, she returns to her toddler and, to her surprise, he’s no longer upset. His tantrum has passed, and he now looks calm and happy thanks to the time-out method his mom came up with.

This compassionate technique is inspiring many parents to reconsider traditional, strict discipline and follow a more patient approach. One TikTok user, @xaydlmbrg, commented, “People who have never had siblings/kids will not understand how important this is. This was very gentle parenting. Timeouts are necessary! Or else they will always cry if they don't get what they want.” Another user, @mad_loveless, wrote, “Such a great job, mom! My version of gentle parenting. This is the way to stand your ground, make your point, and continue to show them love during the difficult moments.”

However, several others criticized Jowen’s approach, as one TikToker, @katiejwilliams, said, “Thanks for sharing, but I can’t agree with being isolated for having big emotions as a toddler. It only teaches that they aren’t accepted unless they’re ‘nice,’ which is a lot of pressure to have.” Another user, @trishkabo, commented, “This is not gentle parenting. Like at all. This is not developmentally appropriate practice. This is behaviorism and forced compliance. This does not encourage healthy social-emotional development.”

Meanwhile, clinical psychologist Lindsey Giller explained that children often experience strong emotions and said, “Some children’s reactions are just bigger than their peers or their siblings or their cousins.” She added, “Not only do they feel things more intensely and quickly, they’re often slower to return to being calm.” Therefore, parents can begin by teaching their kids about emotions and how they work, as reported by Child Mind Institute. They can learn self-control by analyzing their emotions before they become overwhelming. Accepting these emotions is the first step toward learning how to manage and cope with them effectively. Keeping this in mind, Jowen’s time-out method is a helpful way to give kids space to pause and regulate their emotions.

You can follow @livjowen for more such parenting hacks.