Potty Training Children: One Size Does Not Fit All

There are many different methods for potty training children.

Each method is popular for different reasons, but the important thing to remember when doing your homework is that you must identify which method and suggestions work best for your child.

There are core strategies most methods share, but one size does not fit all when it comes to potty training.

Children grow and develop at different rates. If you have more than one chid, it can be shocking how different each child, is in spite of the consistency in parenting style.

When potty training children, choosing the right method can be the key to success. You want to train your child so you can ditch the diaper, hit the potty seat and smile at the success of your parenting.

Here are three ideas to remember in the process.

1. Inch by inch. Capitalize on your child’s desire to learn and grow.  Reading books related to toilet training as a family, picking out the potty seat  and underwear together reinforces the process and goal in mind.
2. Unnecessary Pressure. Don’t put unnecessary pressure on your child to succeed.  If your child is afraid of the seat or toilet, let him sit on it fully clothed daily for a few minutes, then work towards taking the diaper off so he can sit like Mom and Dad. This is a journey, not an event. Part of the process is introduction and planning for pre-training. Children need to feel as though they are part of the process, rather than thrown into the situation with the expectation that he will do exactly what he is suppose to after you read a couple of books and buy the potty seat and underwear.
3. Maintain hyperbolic excitement when potty training. Children desire our approval and this is a motivating tool to use when potty training. However, keep it real because you aren’t going to be able to maintain the confetti throwing party and treat train every time. Praise genuinely and give your child a moment to admire his success to promote the pride you both feel.
4. Approval and Praise. Nobody wants to be a failure. It is job one to ensure that your response is not visibly exasperated, frustrated, or punitive when your child makes a mistake.  Replace saying, “That’s not right or you missed again” with “We will try again, mistakes happen.” This keeps the child encouraged and teaches mistakes are part of learning.
5. Combat of the wills and will not. Oppositional behavior is sometimes a part of potty training children, as developmentally that is where many children are at behaviorally. This is because they are discovering their independence and the power of their own will. Do not get into a power struggle about going potty. You will lose every time and be frustrated beyond belief. If you minimize the issue in front of your child then you are making it apparent that the training is for him, not you. The power is in being tenacious and consistently providing the opportunities until success is achieved.

There is nothing more satisfying than seeing your child take his steps no matter what they are.

Remember, you are your child’s first teacher.

It is the encouragement and safety net we provide when potty training children that allows them to make mistakes and propel their achievement in whatever goals we set together.

Potty Training Power…AWAY!!!