We don't do time out at all like that!

We don't have a time limit for time out, so no set time for each year of life or anything like that. They are merely removed from the situation, so put on the chair or whatever space you have chosen. When we were first starting this process I would sit with them, hand on knee, completely disengaged. Once settled, for any amount of time no set minutes, but had calmed to a degree you are happy with, they were released and asked to so whatever it was again, or not to as the case may be. And the process repeated for disregarding whatever they weren't meant to.

We never ask for an apology as apologies should be freely given in our house and generally after things are calm outside of time out they come of their own accord and say sorry. Far better to mean it than do it out of obligation.

This method has worked for us. After an hour, I think the message has certainly been lost.