I have a discipline contract and in it states my forms of discipline. I do use time outs, and gage it on each child (usually going with one minute for every year of age) however some kids need more or less depending on the offense or the personality. don't do time outs before the age of 2, and use them only for dangerous or disrespectful situations or continually not following direction. I always have them sit in the same spot, this way they all learn when I say "go to time-out" they go to that spot and plop down. After times out is over I approach them and we talk over what happened and make a plan for next time. Timeouts are quite rare, some kids NEVER need them.