Potty Practice Tips that Work
Helping a
child master the skill of toileting is different in a child care setting than
in the home. At home you may have one or two children practicing this skill,
where as in a child care setting you may have seven to fourteen children in a
classroom, and toileting becomes a common ritual. In the child care setting it
is important to work with the families and respect their wishes on how to help
their child meet this milestone. The process can go awry if the child is
practicing one way at home and another in child care. The first step in
beginning this process is to wait until the child is physically and emotionally
ready to practice toileting, somewhere around two years old.
Caution
- (This is an area where power struggles can occur, harming a child as well
as stressing out the care givers. When too much pressure is put on a young
child to practice toileting it can cause emotional and physical problems such
as delayed success in toileting and encopresis - holding in a bowel movement. Forcing
a child to sit on the toilet for extended periods and trying to convince the
child to eliminate will not be productive or provide positive results.)
Children are in control of three things, eating, sleeping and toileting.
So how do you know a child is ready and
what do you do?
Signs of Readiness
(Include but are not limited to the following)
1. The child begins to show interest in the toileting process. He may
want to watch others toileting, become interested in the toilet function, or
may want to sit on the toilet.
2. The child is dry through the night or extended periods throughout the
day.
3. The child becomes aware that she has soiled herself. She may ask you
to change her (she may do this by trying to take off her own diaper after
eliminating), or you may find the child in a private place having a bowel
movement.
4. The child is able to push pants down and pull them up. When a child is
ready he/she may initiate the toileting process by pushing down their pants and
or removing their diaper.
Begin slowly and make it fun.
1.
Get a potty chair or a seat
that fits securely on the toilet with a stool for their feet.
2.
Sing a song or bring in a
book to read.
3.
Make the event brief.
4.
Give the child the control. “Amir, are
you all done?”
Even if it has
only been a few seconds let Amir get down, help him as he pulls up his pants, and wash hands. Don’t be surprised
if he soils himself immediately after, this is very common. Don’t scold the
child, just change him as this is the beginning of associating elimination and
the process of toileting.
This is Potty
Practice. If Amir goes to the bathroom give him lots of praise and maybe do the
Potty Dance. You may find that bribery and stickers will backfire, though many
use them successfully. There is no specific time frame, though in the beginning
you might try every half hour, some people try every fifteen minutes.
5. Associate toilet practice with activities in the day; before or after
meals, before and after nap, before going outside or a change in activities.
(Consider how
you would feel if you were playing with your favorite toy or activity and you
are forced to leave it to use the toilet. Try to choose times when the child is
in between activities, or let the child bring it with her. This is responsive and respectful care giving.
Some parents take their children to practice toileting when they go saying
“It’s time for us to go potty.”)
Funny side
note: I always took my four children to the restroom upon entering a restaurant
or attending an event. Today as adults they still head to the stalls when they
arrive at a destination.
Be of good cheer! Though there may be an occasional accident, most children master this skill before going to Kindergarten.
.
Toilet Training Guidelines: Day Care
Providers—The Role of the Day Care Provider in Toilet Training
TOILET TRAINING:The Intensive Method
Parent’s Top Potty-Training Tips
Potty Training Boys
http://www.nammas.org/profiles/blogs/24-best-potty-training-tips
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