I can not take full credit for the idea, I got it from Kayla’s preschool teacher.  However, I did upgrade its design in my crafty way.  Using about $5 dollars in supplies from our local craft store- AC Moore.  I took a picture of Kayla, cut it out, laminated it and glued it to a little wooden girl shape and put a magnet on the back.

Then you create the sections, Green=Good, yellow, Red=Bad.

The idea is to stay in Green, however if we are yelled at 2 times for something, the 3rd time is straight to timeout, and we are moved into yellow.  We stay there.

If we are yelled at again for something 2 more times, as before the 3rd time they are sent straight to timeout, and moved into red.  With red, we also loose a toy or a privilege for the rest of the day.

I would say it took 2 days of this to get thru, but after, we don’t usually see the red anymore.  Its quite effective, because from what I am learning with autism etc.  the visual makes it more clear for them.  Its right there, in their face.  Now I have also added that after the time out buzzer goes off, (I usually give 10 min) I ask if she understands why she was put in timeout.  If she replies no, then I explain using short sentences, ex: You were using fresh talk, or because you were not being a good listener, or you were arguing with mommy, etc., and those are bad behaviors.

Another thing I also picked up from our OT therapist, is that I no longer say “you were being a bad girl” its a self esteem breaker.  Instead say “you were making a bad choice.”