What should a nurse advise regarding warnings before a time-out?

• A. One warning should be given when the child misbehaves
• B. No warnings are needed
• C. Three warnings should be given
• D. Warnings should be given only for serious behavior

Answer: (A)

Giving warnings before a time-out helps children learn to pause and change their behavior. A single, clear warning sets the expectation that certain actions will lead to a consequence, making the rule predictable and easy to follow. If the misbehavior continues, the time-out is then applied promptly. This approach balances firmness with fairness and avoids turning warnings into a game or creating confusion from multiple reminders. Providing one warning keeps the process straightforward and reinforces the cause-and-effect link between behavior and consequence.