Some kids whiz through the potty training stage in no time, but these kids are in the minority. If you’re having trouble potty training your youngster, you’re certainly not alone. Here are five tips on understanding some common reasons which contribute to a prolonged or emotionally driven experience with this necessary training.
When should you begin potty training? There really is no magic date and time. Some parents try to initiate this training too early. If the child isn’t ready, you’re guaranteed to have trouble potty training. So how do you know when your child is ready? One signature of readiness is that the child starts giving you clues, either by letting you know he needs a diaper changing, or an indication that he’s aware that he needs to go, now! If you force the situation, you can be sure your program won’t be well received.
This leads to our next tip. A lack of motivation leads, again, to trouble potty training. It’s not enough for your child to be aware of his distaste for a dirty diaper. It’s up to you to create an atmosphere that leads to a higher degree of motivation. Once your child is aware that he has a degree of control, you want to hand that control to him. Now’s the time to go buy that potty training seat. Take your child with you and let him choose the one he likes. Let him know he’s chosen to take a big step towards being a big boy. This psychologically puts him in control.
This can be a crucial element, when this awareness develops coincidentally with the so-called ‘terrible twos’. Kids in this emotional phase of development exhibit contrary behavior just because they feel like doing so. So, if there’s one issue you don’t want to make a big deal out of, potty training is it!
The associations a child makes in his own mind, which pertain to use of the potty seat, play an important role in whether this will be a long, drawn out process or a relatively easy transition. Don’t ever get angry when the child chooses not to use the potty chair, even though he knows it’s available. Anger or obvious disapproval from you equals trouble potty training ? for you! Try another track. When there’s an accident, say something along the lines of ?Oh, wow! We’d better change that diaper, huh? I’m sorry you had to have a dirty diaper!? The child then intuitively realizes that in fact, he didn’t have to have the dirty diaper. It’s his potty chair and big boys use them, not diapers. This is a little reverse psychology that works. You’ve laid the ball in his court and he’s motivated to control what is or is not in his diaper. He wants to be a big boy, but doesn’t want you telling him he must! Simple as that.
Rebelliousness, resentment and control issues are often what promotes trouble. If you’re having trouble potty training your child, use these tips and insights to make this transition easily and quickly.
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