Tricks to Make Potty Training Easier (For Parents and Kids)
Potty training can actually be fun. Illustration by Erik Mace for Yahoo Parenting
For most parents, potty training can be summed up in one word: frustrating.
The process can be challenging for little ones — your child has been going in a diaper whenever the mood strikes, and suddenly you’re asking that she not only hold it, but relieve herself on a strange little seat.
The issue goes deeper than confusion, though. According to child psychologist Ginny Trierweiler, PhD, potty training establishes a power struggle between parents and children: You want your toddler to use the potty; she thinks diapers are just fine, thank you very much.
“You can make [the process] much less stressful if you recognize that this is a lot to master and are patient with the process,” Trierweiler tells Yahoo Parenting.
But while patience (and truck-load of it) is key, there’s a way to make the experience easier and even fun for both of you. Trierweiler recommends these age-specific tactics to get through potty training with your sanity intact:
If your child is under a year and a half:
Lead by example
“At this age, all kids are doing is observing others and trying to mimic them,” Trierweiler says. So have her watch you use the toilet, and explain every step of the process. Then, encourage her to do the same.
Practice pantsing
Pulling down one’s pants is a new skill to master, and your child can try it out even when it’s not potty time. This move is also a good precursor to mastering dressing and undressing skills.
Try cloth diapers
If your child refuses to give up his diapers, switch to the cloth version. Why? Cloth diapers allow kids to feel the wetness more so than the disposable kind. Once children feel that discomfort, they’ll want to speed up the potty training process.
Keep her occupied
Stack books by the potty and hold story time each time your child uses the bathroom (Trierweiler recommends books about the potty to maintain focus). However, if she needs a distraction, interactive lift-the-flap books do the trick.
Encourage him to run free
Being able to recognize the need to go, running to the potty, pulling down pants and underwear — that’s a lot of steps. Make it easier on your child by letting him run around naked. That way, when he has to go, he can just sit down and do it.
If your child is over a year-and-a-half:
Buy cool underwear
Let your child pick out new skivvies adorned with a favorite cartoon character. Then say the character doesn’t like to get soaked so it’s really important to hit the potty instead of peeing in his pants.
Play ‘shoot the Cheerios’
If your child is a boy, sprinkle five or so Cheerios in the potty and ask him to “shoot” them with a stream of urine. Aside from being fun, Trierweiler says this game helps with aim.
Trick out the potty
Kids naturally gravitate toward fun, bright objects and potties are kind of, meh. Jazz up yours by tying on balloons and encourage your child to decorate the exterior with stickers.
Keep a reward basket
Urinating in the potty is a big deal, and going number two is even bigger. So fill a basket with toys from the local dollar store and keep it in the bathroom. She can pick out one toy each time she goes number 1, and two toys for number 2.
Play a mind trick
If your toddler loves her diapers, start fastening them a little more snuggly than usual. When she protests, loosen the diaper and tell her she’s getting to be a big girl and will need big girl underwear soon.
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