Prepping the Potty-Monster!
Some simple ways to help you prepare your child for Potty training are as follows:
All things potty: Make talking about pee and poop as part of your daily conversations, explain to them the process of performing the act along with what they would feel like when they have the need to pee or poop.
Narrate the process: One simple way for you to explain the process is by narrating it to your child while you are using the toilet. Tell them the feeling you got when you felt like peeing or pooping, take them with you to the toilet and talk to them while you are in the process of using the toilet.
Modeling the process: When your toddler sees you use the toilet, they will want to go ahead and try using the potty as they will understand that it is normal to use the potty to pee or poop.
Use their toys to help them: You can use some of their favorite toys to tell a story of how their soft toy or barbie is feeling the urge to use the potty. Take them through the process of how their toy walked to the potty, pull down their pants, sit on the potty and pee.
Let them narrate: Once they have seen you and their toys use the potty, you could allow them to take charge of using the potty and describing their experience to you.
Create a game: You could also try asking them questions to help see if they have started understanding the potty learning process and will also make them feel like they are helping you to use the potty. Questions you could ask them could be
I’m feeling the need to pee. What should I do?
I finished pooping. What should I do now?
Books, videos and songs: These are great tools to keep handy when you want to start teaching your child how to use the potty. This will make them excited and familiar with the process.
Teach or show the skills they will need: Show your what the differents steps would be for them to use the potty
Walking to the potty when they get the urge
Pulling their pants down and pulling them up when they are done peeing or pooping
How to wipe their butt or pee area
Washing their hands after using the potty.
Talk to your child a day before you plan to start the 3 day potty training marathon. Tell them how you are going to be teaching them how to use the potty to pee and poop and how you both are going to say bye bye to the diaper. Keep your explanations short, sweet, calm and positive.
