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Blog Post 49 How to Make Potty Training Fun

Potty Training Series: How to Make Potty Training Fun

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Once you understand when the right time to potty train your child is, and after you’ve nailed the basics, it’s time to begin learning some quirky tricks of the potty training trade. When you are ready to start getting down to business, you’ll want to make potty training as fun and stress-free as possible!

The following are some tips that will help you make potty training a more enjoyable process for the whole family:

  • Read books.

    Picture books about potty training are a fantastic way to get your child excited about this new milestone and will help him understand why he is using the potty.

  • Sing songs.

    Children love music! By singing some catchy potty training tunes, you can make the potty training experience much more fun for you and your child.

  • Play a game.

    A potty training board game is the ultimate potty training survival kit that makes potty training a blast for both kids and parents.

  • Download apps.

    Since your child probably knows how to use your phone just as well as you do, downloading a potty training app is another good way to engage your child in the potty training process. They will have fun playing with the interactive apps that also help them understand potty training.

  • Throw a potty party.

    If you know anyone else who is potty training their children, invite them to the party. It could be a good idea for your child to see that her friends are also using the potty as well. It’s also great to have your child’s favorite family members there (such as an uncle or grandmother) to cheer them on as well. The potty party is a creative way to offer your child positive reinforcement as they begin their potty training journey.

At Carpe Diem Private Preschool, our staff is trained and experienced in the potty training process. By making potty training fun, we engage our little learners and build confidence as they get started on the potty training process. We understand that accidents happen. Our staff focuses on positive reinforcement rather than scolding or punishing children if they have accidents. We believe in encouraging our students and creating a supportive environment in all aspects of their learning and development!

More in this series: 8 Ways to Know When its The Right Time, The Basics of Potty Training

Basics of Potty Training

Potty Training Series: The Basics of Potty Training

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Once you are confident that your child is physically and emotionally ready for potty training, it’s time to get down to business. Many parents get frustrated during the potty training phase if they feel like their child isn’t learning fast enough. But it’s important to understand that potty training is a process. Luckily there are many simple steps that you can follow to make bathroom business a breeze.

Here are some basic tips that might make potty training a little easier on both you and your child.

Prepare with the chair.

Sitting on the toilet may be scary for some children. They may feel off balance, and the seat may feel too high up for them. Using a potty chair can make your child feel more comfortable and secure, allowing them to plant their feet safely on the ground.

Be sure to keep the chair in a place where your child spends a lot of time, so that when he or she needs to use the bathroom, it will be easier to access. Having the chair close by also serves as a convenient reminder. Your child will see the chair and remember that she can use the potty chair as soon as she gets the urge.

Familiarize them with the toilet.

Help your child practice sitting on the toilet fully clothed at first, so that he gets familiarized with the setting. Once he is comfortable sitting on the chair with his clothes on, you can take the next step of helping him sit on it with his clothes off. This will help familiarize him with what the seat feels like on his skin.

Teach them bathroom concepts.

Demonstrate to your child that the toilet is the place where “pee” and “poo” goes. You can do this by taking your child’s diaper after she has had a bowel movement and having her watch as you dump the stool into the toilet. Explain to her that this is where all of her pee and poo belong.

Set an example for your child by letting her see you sitting on the toilet. You can encourage her to sit on her potty chair at the same time if it is in the bathroom. You should also show her how you wash your hands with soap and water every time you finish on the toilet, and help her practice doing the same.

Offer reinforcement.

Try not to get angry or be too hard on your child if he makes mistakes. Potty mistakes are bound to happen, especially in the early stages of the potty training process. Instead, offer praise when he does something right. Positive reinforcement is key in establishing good bathroom behavior.

After a few days of consistently successful bathroom visits, you can begin making the switch from diapers to training pants, or from training pants to “big kid” underwear. You can determine how quickly to make the change by your child’s reaction to the new introduction.

Get everyone on the same page.

If your child attends preschool or daycare, or is in the care of a babysitter or grandparents, it’s important to share your potty training preferences with all caregivers in your child’s life. This includes the teachers and staff at your child’s daycare or preschool. Doing this will make things a lot easier for your child, who will benefit from the consistency and support that she will receive from all caregivers.

At Carpe Diem Private Preschool, our staff is trained and experienced in the potty training process. Unlike many other daycares and preschools, we prefer to base potty training on the individual interests of the child. Once the child is using the potty regularly, our teachers will communicate with parents and encourage the use of underwear. Our staff focuses on positive reinforcement rather than scolding or punishing children if they have accidents. We believe that keeping a positive mentality and supportive environment for the children in our care is important in all aspects of learning!

More in this Series: How to Know When its The Right Time, How to Make Potty Training Fun

 

Training Day

Potty Training Series: 8 Ways to Know When It’s the Right Time

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There is no perfect time or magic age for parents to start potty training. Every child matures at his own pace, and it’s important to keep this in mind as you begin thinking about potty training yours. Before you begin on the potty training journey, you should first be sure that your child is both physically and emotionally ready. For many children, this occurs sometime around the age of two, either when they are in daycare or about to begin preschool. If the child is not showing signs of readiness, potty training may lead to more frustration than success.

Here are some tell-tale signs that your child may be ready to be potty trained.

Signs That Your Child Is Ready for Potty Training

  1. Pulling or picking at diapers. This is a behavioral sign that indicates your child doesn’t like the feeling of a wet or dirty diaper.
  2. Ability to pull pants up and down. This is necessary if you want your child to be able to use the potty on his own.
  3. Diapers remain dry for a longer than usual amount of time. This is a sign that bladder muscles are developed enough to hold urine. For example, if she takes a nap and wakes up with a dry diaper, it is a clear sign that her bladder muscles are ready for potty training.
  4. Showing interest in others’ bathroom usage. He may watch you go to the bathroom, or even try copying you.
  5. Has her own words that she uses when she talks about urine and stool.
  6. Has his own way of telling you that he’s about to go, or even telling you that he has just gone in his diaper. These may be verbal or physical signals.
  7. Understands the concept of putting things where they belong. For instance, that urine and stool belong in the toilet.
  8. Indicates an eagerness for independence. This is a very important sign that shows your child is emotionally ready to begin the potty training journey.

At Carpe Diem Private Preschool, we work closely with parents to help each child achieve this important milestone. Unlike many other daycares and preschools, we prefer to base potty training on individual signs of readiness. When children ask to go to the potty, or begin to exhibit signs of readiness such as staying dry, motioning or telling a teacher before or after they’ve soiled their diaper, it is often the best time to encourage the potty training process. Often, this occurs around 24-26 months.

During this period, our teachers frequently ask the children if they need or want to go potty – sometimes they say yes and sometimes they may still say no. If the child has been exhibiting signs of readiness, they may be encouraged to sit on the potty for a few minutes just to be sure. As the child becomes more comfortable using the potty, the teachers will encourage them to go more often. Once the child is using the bathroom regularly, teachers will communicate with parents and encourage them to have their child begin wearing underwear to school.

Parents may have to try more than once, but should not lose hope. It’s not uncommon for a child who resists potty training one month to more easily transition to using the toilet the next month. With patience and persistence, and the help of your daycare or preschool, your child will successfully make the transition!

More in this series: The Basics of Potty Training, How to Make Potty Training Fun

Kindergarten teacher and children with hands raised in library

Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten

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The first day of Kindergarten can be an emotional experience, for both you and your child. You might be riddled with worry about how well your child will do in this new learning environment. Your little one might be scared to walk into a classroom full of other children he doesn’t know and adults he hasn’t met before. Thankfully, there are some easy ways to make your baby’s transition into Kindergarten as painless as possible.

Prepare socially                    

  • Set up play dates with children of various ages so that your child can get used to interacting with other kids. Observe your child’s behavior and notice if he struggles with concepts such as sharing or taking turns. These are social behaviors that you can easily teach your child before they start Kindergarten.
  • Leave your child with other trusted adults, such as an extended family member or a highly recommended babysitter, for a few hours at a time. If your child is not used to being in the care of someone other than mommy and daddy, this is a good way for her to adjust to being under the care of a teacher that she has never met prior to walking in on the first day of Kindergarten.

Prepare verbally

  • Give your child simple and specific directions and encourage him to complete the tasks. It’s important for your child to be able to listen attentively and follow through with what is requested of him before he goes into a classroom environment where this will be expected of him.
  • Read to your child daily and pause occasionally to ask questions. This will ensure that she stays engaged while you read to her. Here are some ways to make story time a more interactive experience.

Prepare cognitively

  • Teach your child his numbers. You can practice with him by counting aloud during car rides or helping him count objects in your home. Make sure he is able to identify the numbers 1-10 before beginning Kindergarten.
  • Talk about concepts with your child. It’s usually a good idea to start with an easy concept like opposites. Some common opposites include big/little, empty/full, and slow/fast. Positional and directional concepts are also important to go over with your child. Make sure they know the basics like up/down, over/under, in/out, behind/in front of, top/bottom, beside/between, off/on, and stop/go.

Prepare physically

  • Go outside and let your child run wild (under your supervision, of course)! Things like running, jumping, and climbing allow your child to naturally develop you his gross motor skills. Playing catch and skipping around are also great ways to do this.
  • Practice name writing. Not only will your child most likely need to know how to write her name on the first day of school, but name writing exercises are also one of the best ways to develop her fine motor skills.

At Carpe Diem Private Preschools, we believe that the best early childhood education starts with a good foundation. We believe that where a child learns has a direct impact on how well a child learns. This is why our preschool classrooms and teachers are so well-equipped to prepare the little ones for their big transition into our Kindergarten classroom. We have put careful thought into creating the perfect learning atmosphere for all of our students.