Is your child showing signs that they are ready to use the toilet? These tips can help make toilet training a positive experience for everyone.
Tips for Toileting
Use lots of positive reinforcement!
Use visuals in the bathroom to support learning.
Use chants and songs, e.g. "Let it go! Let it go!", "Push it out, push it out, way out!", "Pee pee in the potty, pee pee in the potty!" or "I just want to potty all the time, potty all the time!"
Dolly play: use your child's favourite stuffed animals, dolls or figurines.
Prompt with a timer, e.g. every 60 minutes.
Whenever you go, they go!
Use reward charts, e.g. if they tell you they need to go to the toilet 5 times in one week, they get a gift!
Read social stories.
Use forward chaining: teach one step at a time, e.g. walk to the bathroom, then sit on the toilet.
Use backward chaining: your child completes the last step first, e.g. drying their hands, then washing and drying their hands.
Encourage your child to watch others, e.g. older adults or siblings, go to the toilet.
Talk through the steps with your child.
