A Therapist's Guide To Potty Training

Potty training is an important and crucial step that often needs to be accomplished before your child goes off to school. Though potty training may seem straightforward, often it can cause stress, anxiety, and even discomfort for your child. Some children will avoid going to the bathroom at all costs! If you notice that your child is avoiding potty training or is having difficulty doing it successfully, here are a few tips to help you in the process.

First… Do I need to see a medical professional?

            If you notice that your child is having any discomfort, is having constant accidents, or is flat out refusing to go under any circumstances… I encourage you to seek the help of a medical professional. Though this article will give you advice on how to minimize anxiety and make potty training a fun experience… it will not help if your child is having health concerns. A doctor may be able to give a diagnosis and prescribe medications that may help with any underlying physical conditions.

Tips for Potty Training:

1.)   Go to the bathroom as often as possible!

Creating a consistent bathroom routine is one of the most effective ways to help your child succeed. Encourage them to sit on the potty at regular intervals, even if they say that they don’t need to go. At first, you may need to take them to the bathroom every 30 minutes to an hour. This routine helps them to build confidence and practice all of the steps involved including: pulling down pants, sitting on the potty, trying to go, wiping, flushing, and washing hands. Once they get better at not having accidents… it may be time to extend the time between bathroom breaks. If your child becomes confident and is not having accidents, you may be able to go more than one hour in between each bathroom break. Keep in mind that the time between bathroom breaks is dependent on your child. A therapist may be able to help you decide how long you should wait in between each bathroom break and how long your child should spend in the bathroom.

It is also important to note that your child does not need to go to the bathroom in the same bathroom each time. In fact, it may actually be helpful for your child to use different bathrooms! If you're out at the store, at grandma’s house, or at a friend's house… do not stop your bathroom routine! Using different bathrooms can help your child generalize the skills and become confident in going to the bathroom anywhere. This will especially come in handy during school time!

2.)   Use reward charts!

            Who doesn’t love extra motivation? Creating a reward system for your child can be a helpful way to reinforce successful bathroom trips. Think of a prize that your child can win each time they successfully use the bathroom. Examples can be small pieces of candy, stickers, pencils, or books. If your child is resistant to even going into the bathroom, it may be helpful to reinforce going and sitting on the potty with a small prize (stickers), and using bigger prizes (books or candy) to reinforce successful elimination. Your therapist can help you to create a reward chart that works best for you and your family.

It is also important to set specific expectations for your child. Explain what you are doing and why it is important. Telling your child about things that they can earn for going to the bathroom can be exciting! It might even be helpful to involve them in the conversation and help to choose what they earn. Creating visual charts that track progress can also be helpful in boosting motivation and confidence.

Here are some examples of different types of rewards that your child can earn:

• Small treats (M&Ms, gummy bears, starburst)

• Special privileges (extra screen time, later bedtime, choosing a movie for movie night)

• Larger prizes (books, small toys, action figures, virtual game rewards)

• Verbal praise or high-fives

3.)   Make it fun!

            Your child will be going into the bathroom a lot when they first start potty training… and that can get boring! Make potty training fun by coming into the bathroom prepared. Below are some fun ideas that you can do to make potty time interesting.

• Make up a fun song and dance to do for your child while they are sitting

• Read books together

• Bring in preferred toys to play with while they are sitting

• Watch videos on a phone or tablet

• Bring in fidget toys

• Use bubbles

Conclusion:

            Potty training is both a fun and daunting experience. It is important to remember that every child moves at their own pace. Some kids may pick up on it quickly, while others may need more practice. Remember, accidents happen! Creating a consistent routine, using rewards, and making it fun are all important steps towards success. The key is to be patient, practice small successes, and support your child every step of the way.

At Cutting Edge Counseling of the North Shore, we're proud to offer our services to clients in Northbrook and the surrounding communities, including Glenview, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wheeling, Northfield, Glencoe, Winnetka, Buffalo Grove, Riverwoods, Lincolnshire, Prospect Heights, Vernon Hills, Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights, and Des Plaines. Our commitment is to provide personalized and effective therapy to help you achieve your goals.

Written By,

Jordan Adamson, LPC

www.cuttingedge-therapy.com