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There is good news for parents who are [on / in] two minds about the merits of using time-outs as a [firm / form] of punishment. Research from the University of Michigan in the USA says there [is / are] evidence to show time-outs can be an effective discipline [strategy / strategic] for children aged between two and eight years. Researchers say parents do not need to [frat / fret] about their [parenting / parented] skills if they give time-outs to misbehaving children as they do not harm children's [mentally / mental] wellbeing or their relationship [with / within] their parents. In an eight-year study, researchers compared the emotional health and behavior in children [whose / which] parents used time-outs with those who didn't. They found there was no [difference / different] in the children.

Time-outs are a [form / firm] of discipline used by parents to modify their children's behavior. It usually [revolves / involves] sending children to a quiet space or quiet corner. The aim is [to / for] children to reflect on their behavior. Scientists have disagreed about the effectiveness of [this / these] strategy. Dr Rachel Knight said: "Some reports in the media and by [selection / select] organizations have suggested that time-out is ineffective and even harmful." She added: "There are some [alarms / alarming] claims that time-outs can damage the parent-child relationship and negatively [effect / affect] emotional health, but the research simply [doesn't / don't] support those claims." Dr Knight concluded: "We did not find a relationship [between / among] time-outs and negative side effects [in / on] children."