A nurse is assessing a toddler during a well-child visit. Which of the following parent statements indicates the correct use of time-out as a method of discipline?

A. “I give my child one warning before she has to go in time-out.": Providing one clear warning before initiating time-out helps the child understand expectations and the consequences of their behavior. This approach promotes consistency and allows the child a chance to correct behavior before the discipline is applied. B. "I will explain to my child why her actions are wrong after I put her in time-out.": Explaining the behavior after time-out is less effective because the child may not connect the explanation to the consequence. Discipline is most effective when the rationale is provided before or during the warning, not afterward. C. “I typically leave my child in time-out for 10 minutes.": For toddlers, time-out duration should generally be brief—around 1 minute per year of age—so 10 minutes may be excessively long and counterproductive, causing frustration rather than learning. D. “I send my child to her room and shut the door during time-out.": Closing the door can increase feelings of isolation or fear and is not recommended. Time-out should occur in a safe, visible, and neutral area to allow supervision and ensure the child’s safety while learning appropriate behavior.