Week 3 Lesson: Working Toileting into Daily Routines

see larger photo

Week 3 Potty Lesson

Most parents know that children do best when consistent routines are in place. Most likely, for example, you’ve already developed a bedtime routine—pajamas, teeth-brushing, a story (or five), kisses and hugs, and then lights-out. When these consistent steps are followed night after night, most children drift off to sleep quite nicely.

Other routines involve eating, dressing, and getting into the car seat. Maybe you have others for getting to childcare or picking siblings up from school. Likewise, it’s important for you to start working using the toilet into your daily routines, as well.

Now, toileting is a little different because people use the toilet when they feel the need to go, not necessarily on a particular schedule. That being said, you do need to set aside time for your child to practice sitting on the potty, giving him or her time to get acquainted with the idea of using the toilet throughout the day.

This Week’s Readiness Sign

Is your child willing to sit on her potty to practice? If you say to her, “Come on, it’s time to sit on your potty before getting into the bathtub,” will she do so? While she may not perform, willingness to practice at key times during the day is an important readiness sign.

Don't miss the Week 3 Potty Project: Practice Sitting Regularly