Toilet training in the preschool or daycare environment does not have to be stressful.
Dr. Dr. Judith Goldstein, esteemed pediatrician at Global Pediatrics in New York along with Kimberley Blaine, “The Go To Mom”, parenting expert, and licensed family and child therapist, provide excellent tips for preschool teachers and daycare providers for successful, stress-free potty training.
Never Use Force
Ease a child into the idea of pee peeing in the potty. Never pressure a child to use the potty. Blaine warns that long term exposure to the potty or watching someone use the potty is all a child needs to be motivated.
Create a Reward System
Dr. Goldstein recommends a reward system for both large and small potty training related accomplishments. Smaller occasions, such as when a child notifies the caretaker that they need to go potty, pulls down their pants alone, or takes the initiative to sit on the potty on their own, are all acceptable accomplishments that are also worthy of reward. Therefore, any steps involved the potty training process may be recognized.
Reward charts with stickers or honor badges are recommended. “Rewards, however, don't always have to be tangible; they can be non-verbal or verbal as well," says Dr. Goldstein. High-fives, hugs, praise and encouragement, or a special hand shake are all good examples of non-tangible rewards.
While a reward system is a good strategy for toilet training success, Blaine warns against excessive praise. “This may make a child feel like a failure if they can’t keep dry. All children really want is to feel competent and proud,” says Blaine.
Show and Tell
A young child's desire to imitate others helps the toilet training process. “If a baby or child has a teammate in daycare or preschool who is more advanced in the training process, that child can watch another child go potty and the caretaker can explain what is happening,” says Dr. Goldstein. This helps them feel motivated to achieve the same goal.
Go Diaperless
Encourage parents to let their children play without a diaper in the yard. Blaine suggests that daycare providers also bring the little potty outdoors and let them use it outside. “A child who feels they have control over their bodies will use the potty with more easily,” says Blaine.
Playacting
Dr. Goldstein suggests the use of a doll that wets to model the toilet training. When the child recognizes where the pee comes from they can practice taking off the doll’s diapers, and playact the steps involved in using the potty, such as placing the doll on the potty, changing the dolls diapers, and flushing or emptying the toilet. This is another strategy which capitalizes on imitation.
Potty Time Chart
It may be helpful for caretakers to record the times of the day when the baby or child has a bowel movement. Record the children’s potty times for several weeks. Charting helps the childcare provider or preschool teacher notice patterns, which aids in the potty training process. For example, Dr. Goldstein suggests that if a child’s potty time is consistently after breakfast, it is best to put the child on the potty at that same time each day.
Learning Materials
Potty training books and videos are great ways to introduce a child to potty training, especially when done in a group setting, as it opens the stage for conversation. Dr. Goldstein recommends Bye, Bye Diapers by Ellen Weiss [Golden Books, 1998] and I Have to Go by Sesame Street [Random House, 1990].
Working cooperatively with parents, preschool teachers and childcare providers play a vital role in the potty training process. For more information about potty training in the preschool or daycare environment, see Preschool Toilet Training.
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