I have come to find out that many nannies, although they command respect, are concerned when it comes to following through and placing a child in timeout. I am here to reassure you that it is ok to go to that level.
A timeout does not harm the child, it only enforces the notion that there are consequences to poor decisions. It is better to do this and live a moment of discomfort (due to a unwilling child) than allow to negative behavior to continue. It may not be pretty or fun the first couple of times, but this is how discipline is established.
Also, be conscious of what is an appropriate timeout. Do not stick a child in the corner over a minor irritation. You may use it as a threat if there is some misbehaving, but only act upon it if the behavior continues or a complete violation of house rules occurs. When giving a timeout be aware of how long is necessary. The younger the child and the minor the violation, the less time is required. Remember, what may seem like a short while to you can seem like ages to a kid. You want them to know consequence without shattering their spirits.
After the sentence has been served, have an open discussion with the child and make sure they know that you don't like timeouts any more than they do, but they are necessary if bad behavior happens. Be positive when having this talk and work to get morale back up. They may not be happy with you initially, but that's ok. Don't apologize for your actions and just try your best to get back on a high note.
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