ground time and time out

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Ju

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Talking about handlling children's emotion. There are two expression I would like to clarify.

1. Are ground time and time out the same?

2. Can I say:
  • He needs some ground time to calm down himself.
  • He needs some time out to calm down himself.
3. When a child was sent by the teacher to stay or sit aside the class, does it mean he is having time out or ground time.

Thank you.
 

emsr2d2

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Talking about handlling children's emotion. There are two expression I would like to clarify.

1. Are ground time and time out the same?

2. Can I say:
  • He needs some ground time to calm down himself.
  • He needs some time out to calm down himself.
3. When a child was sent by the teacher to stay or sit aside the class, does it mean he is having time out or ground time.

Thank you.

I've never heard of "ground time" in BrE. I would usually say "a time out", not "some time out". It's from sport and means a break, usually as a punishment, but can mean just to go away and do something else (or nothing) to get away from a situation.
 

billmcd

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Mar 27, 2009
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Talking about handlling children's emotion. There are two expression I would like to clarify.

1. Are ground time and time out the same?


2. Can I say:
  • He needs some ground time to calm down himself.
  • He needs some time out to calm down himself.
3. When a child was sent by the teacher to stay or sit aside the class, does it mean he is having time out or ground time.

Thank you.

To be "grounded" in AmE refers to time confined to the home usually by an adolescent for some transgression, but is typically for a longer period of time (i.e. a day, several days, a week etc.) than a "time out" which could be for a few minutes. However, to be grounded is not referred to as "ground time". Instead you might say, "He is/was grounded", "You are going to be grounded" etc.

The term "grounded" originates from a term used when pilots are/were disciplined for some violation and results in a period of time during which they may not fly.
 
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