Do You Need To Potty?

Do you need to potty?

Do you find yourself asking your potty training child if they have to go potty many times a day only to have them say no and then immediately have a potty accident? Do not get discouraged; I did the same thing. It seemed as if I only had time to clean up potty accidents and change my child’s clothes all day.

Since then, I have learned one thing about potty training; that is to never ask if a child needs to go potty. The answer will always be no. This no will soon be followed by a potty accident.

Children at the age of 2 years or younger think the answer to most questions is no. Therefore, it is best to say, "Let’s go to the potty." instead of "Do you need to go potty?"

At daycare we take the children, who are potty training, to the potty every hour or hour and a half. We also take them only two or three at a time. The children who can hold it longer are asked to wait while the ones who are still learning to hold it go first. This one thing will teach them patience and will also teach them that we have to take turns.

Also by taking the children to the potty, instead of just asking them to tell us if they need to potty, the children get on a regular schedule which helps them to potty train easier. One more thing, when you ask your child if he needs to potty, you put the thought of going to potty in his head. This triggers his body to react, causing him to have a potty accident; even though he said he did not need to potty.

Therefore, instead of asking, you can say, "Let’s go to the potty." If you are using a reward system, remind him of what his reward is for going to the potty. Remember, be patient, laugh a lot, and help your child to have a wonderful potty training experience.

Potty Humor at the world cup

Urinals in Leipzig, Germany, are decorated with a goalpost and a ball. The eastern Germany city of Leipzig hosts some of the World Cup matches.

Imagination And Potty Training

Imagination and potty training

Make potty training fun for you and your child. Children learn through play and pretending. They love to pretend to be one of their parents, and this helps to make the potty training experience fun and exciting.

Since children want to be like their parents, let your child use their imagination while potty training. Allow your child to be in charge of potty training one of his toys while he also learns to use the potty. As your child potty trains his toy, he gains an understanding of what you are working to teach him.

As your child potty trains their toy he will learn the skills he needs to know for him to use the potty. Your child will also have fun; children want to have fun no matter what the task may be. Therefore make going to the potty fun, and your child will be more eager to use the potty.

Remember to be consistent, give positive encouragement, and have fun as you potty train your child.

Father's day potty training tip

Potty training boys

When potty training boys, they often need a male role model to get the hang of what is supposed to happen. Mom's can do a lot, but some things they just aren't equipped for.

Boys are often focused on exciting activities and deeply involved in play activity so they just don't want to stop long enough to go to the potty. And a normally outgoing and playful boy may choose to run and hide when it is time to poop rather than use the big scary potty.

Dads are often much better at handling potty training problems as they often just see this as a normal biological function and not a competition. Moms can get emotional over things like messy or wet clothes.

So if you are a Dad and ready to get this whole potty training mess behind you so you and your boy can spend time together having fun instead of having to go get mom when there is a diaper to be changed, take some quality time with your boy and teach him what it means to be potty trained.

To read more see my potty training tips for Dads.

Listen to a success story

Potty Training problem solved!

Jenifer was a student in health class I was teaching and she mentioned that she was having frustrations with potty training her son. I introduced her to Janice and soon we heard about this success story.

Click here to listen to what Jenifer had to say about Janice's advice and learn a great tip for potty training.

Using a toy to train is one of the tricks we teach in our child development consulting and is promoted in Westra's Potty train in five hours course.

Solving Behavior Problems

Help for your child's behavior

Would you like to have a well behaved child?

Julie Butler has developed an interesting new tool for helping get you one.

This simple device that you hang on the wall makes an instant change in the atmosphere of any room. This instant change brings peace and calm to any situation.

You'll find that conflict resolution and child behavior management becomes much easier to deal with. Families who use the device report dramatic changes in their households.

Click this link to give it a spin.

Potty Training Awareness Month

Potty training tips for Potty Training awareness month

I am not sure why we need a potty training awareness month. Any parent with a toddler that has not yet learned to use the potty on a regular basis is very much aware of potty training problems and frustrations no matter what month it is.

Every time you have to clean up a smelly mess you become even more aware of your desire to get your little darling potty trained.

So be aware of some of our most common potty training tips:

1. Make sure your child is ready to potty train. Starting too early with incorrect expectations can lead to frustration. Waiting too late can allow incorrect patterns of behavior to develop.

2. Stay positive. Focus on the things your child does right. Chart the successes. Forget the failures.

3. Get your child involved in cleanup activities. Don't do this as punishment but as a training aid.

4. Involve your child's imagination in the training process. Let the child be the teacher to an imaginary friend.

5. Take time to focus your energy on letting your child know exactly what is the desired behavior. Repetition of the correct behavior will reinforce that behavior.

6. Be aware of your own feelings toward potty training. Beware of transferring negative emotions to your child.

7. Use a consistent method when potty training your child. Sending mixed messages only delays the process.

8. Use a potty training method that promotes bonding with your child. Potty training can be frustrating to both children and parents, so don't let this natural process get in the way of loving your child.

9. Spend quality time with your potty training child. Giving your undivided attention to your child for a significant period of time can create a very strong loving bond between the two of you.

10. Show love to your child. Choose a potty training method that works and works fast. Be aware that the best thing about potty training is celebrating your success.