Mitchell's Timeout and Peekaboo w/ Ryan

The daycare room hummed with the usual midday activities when Mitchell had an accident. Ryan, the same caretaker who had been involved in the earlier sharing incident, approached Mitchell with a calm but firm demeanor.

“Time for a timeout, buddy,” Ryan said, guiding Mitchell to the designated spot.

Mitchell’s face scrunched up in protest. “But Seth said I could use pampers!” he wailed, referencing their earlier conversation about listening to the counselors.

Ryan sat nearby, understanding the toddler’s frustration. Mitchell squirmed, uncomfortable in his soiled diaper, but Ryan remained patient. “We’re going to sit here for a few minutes,” he explained gently.

To make the timeout less stressful, Ryan began playing peekaboo. His hands would cover his face, then dramatically reveal himself, eliciting a small giggle from Mitchell despite his earlier distress.

“Tomorrow,” Ryan whispered conspiratorially, “we’ll talk to Seth about what happened. But right now, you need to sit and think about listening to the grown-ups.”

Mitchell’s tears subsided, replaced by the simple joy of their peekaboo game. The timeout continued, a delicate balance of discipline and compassion that defined the careful approach of the daycare staff.