iTimeout
Mitch McDad | March 18Everyone knows I’m a shill for Mac products especially the iPhone. After a particularly rough behavioral stretch with the girls, I have discovered a magical disciplinary technique––that I’m sure won’t last very long.
My girls are obsessed with my iPhone. They watch TV shows, look at photos, and watch YouTube videos (kiddie stuff I’ve checked out). They can both even operate it by themselves, even the 2.5 year old.
So what’s the magic technique? Well, my girls suck at timeouts. Or better said, we have done a sucky job at instilling them. The iPhone, like most every other phone, has a timer function. One exceptionally frustrating day with Lilly I decided she was getting a 10-minute time out, I was pissed, and she knew I was serious. I had my phone on me and set the timer. The phone has a “dog bark” ring tone that the girls love and I told Lilly she had to sit in silence for ten minutes until the dog barked.
SHE DID IT.
I almost soiled myself.
So for a couple of weeks we’ve been timeout-ing like champs. I know the fad will wane, but if it doesn’t, I think Apple has a new marketing strategy.
I wonder if Steve Jobs will hook me up with some royalties?
[…] iTimeout Posted on March 18, 2008 by Mitch McDad And, in an attempt to saturate the market, I now have a post up at the BF’s called iTimeout. […]
Dude, I’m buying one right now.
Sounds brilliant.
You’ve been a busy boy today.
Please send instructions on how to use “dog bark timer”.
Word is that it’s what they do for discipline at Cupertino too.
Whoa, your parenting-fu is high. I’ll add this to my list of complete bullshit reasons why I need an iPhone.
Ok, off to get an iPhone! You think it will work with 7,9,and 12 year old girls?
I’v got a a couple of iphones but never tried the timeout function so far. Sounds like a god idea though. Only problem is I’ve not really had to use timeouts with my kids so far……. I guess it’s only a question of time.
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