Modeling for your toddler the proper way to use the potty is not much different from teaching them the basics of any other activity. They will learn to do it when they developmentally ready. Having said this, as parents, there are many things we can easily do to foster a learning environment that is conducive to learning sooner rather than later.
Just as some children crawl or walk earlier than others, a fraction of children will be ready for successful potty training far earlier as well. It is never a good idea to compare your child with another, especially in regard to potty training readiness. Instead, simply evaluate the readiness of your child in relation to their personality.
Equally important to the readiness of your child is the readiness of you as the parent. There are a multitude of resources from print books to online websites and blogs that can offer you plenty of tips, tricks and sound advice, but you must be confident that potty training is the proper thing to do, or else you will find you are stacking the deck against yourself.
Most often, those toddlers who are ready for training are those toddlers who can easily follow simple directions and have a clear understanding of what is expected of them. Potty trained infants are able to use sign language to let their parents know that they need to eliminate. Older children are able to take it all the way, from pulling down their own underwear to employing the proper hygiene and flushing.
The toddler that is most prepared for their new potty training adventure is also the toddler who carries the clearest understanding of what it is they are expected to do - both in the overall process of elimination and why it is essential to a healthy body.
This toddler will demonstrate a clear preference to remaining dry throughout the day, and would rather stay clean and dry as opposed to soggy or dirty. A child who is ready for potty training is rarely eager to sit in their own waste. If your child has ever brought you a clean diaper or asked to be changed, they are almost certainly ready to start the process of toilet training.
Above all, patience is key. Potty training is a process, not an event to finish in a single setting of the sun. You would never get frustrated teaching your child to walk or to speak, potty training must not be any different. Look to the guidance of others and help your child to find their individual best!
Sean Platt offers potty training tips, tricks and advice to help parents determine the best time to start potty training their children. Visit him at PottyTrainingPower.com today!
