Week 5 Lesson: Your Role as Potty Coach

see larger photo

Week 5 Potty Lesson

As you prep your child for potty training, you also need to ready yourself. Your mindset for potty training is crucial to the potty training process. Here are three aspects to keep in mind:

1. When teaching your child to use the toilet, be aware that you're focusing on the most private and personal parts of his or her body. Potty training involves pee and poop; it can get messy. Nevertheless, your attitude and approach needs to remain upbeat, positive, and encouraging, accompanied with an expectation that the child will—in her own way and time—learn to use the toilet. Shaming, humiliation, and harsh reprimands are not part of potty training.
   
   
2. While there is lots parents can to set the stage for potty training, it's important to keep in mind that ultimate control lies with the child. Every child's body, mind, and emotions develop in the timeframe right for him or her specifically.
   
   
3. You're the stagehand and director, your child the actor on the potty training stage. Watch yourself so that you don't get between your child and the potty. It's important to know where your influence begins and ends: To say to your child, "Sit there and pee" is a waste of words. You can lead your child to the potty, but you can't make him go.

   This Week's Readiness Sign

   Is your child still interested and curious about toileting? Is she continuing to follow you or her siblings into the bathroom, and wanting to flush the toilet or hand you toilet paper? Is her continued interest leading her to practice? If so, you're offering the right amount of encouragement without pushing the child unnecessarily, which might work against toileting success.

   Don't miss the Week 5 Potty Project: Redirect Your Attention