Image by Jari Schroderus via Flickr
The joys of changing diapers, sheets, and washing baby’s bottoms are tasks new parents face with that great bundle of joy they are blessed with. When they are infants we easily accept this territory with the thought in mind that they will in the future be potty-trained. Each child has their own timetable on which that will occur. No two children are the same, and for some parents it can cause some anxiety when it comes to toilet training their child.
Well meaning folks around them from family, friends will give them their own sage advice on the way it “should” work. Some children are easier to train than others, but remember that each child also walks and talks at different stages as well. Nothing is written in stone. As for the fear of traumatizing the child with potty training, the only way that is conceivable is if there are punitive or abusive actions on the parent to the child during this training.
Training typically follows the development of the child’s basic skills and abilities. There are some children that can watch their older siblings or peers and want to follow suit, but that is not always the case. Toilet training is a complex skill due to the child being able to recognize and define the urges to eliminate, control it until they reach the bathroom, undress and get on the toilet. We tend to forget there are steps to the method!
Pay attention to body language. Most youngsters show telling signs when they are in need of going to the restroom. Little girls can begin the pee-pee dance, while some boys will tend to hold themselves. In that instant it is important to make them aware now would be a good time to make it to the restroom.
It is equally significant that you try and refrain from getting upset about accidents or feel compelled to rush them or pressure them to use the toilet. Pick a day. Many times it is much easier, if you work, to start it on the weekend. This helps aid in consistency
