Potty Training
As experienced professionals we support and advise families when we feel a child is ready to start potty training. We discuss with the family the way in which we are all going to approach the transition to support the child, ensuring it is a positive and consistent experience.
You can tell when your child is ready because:
- They recognise when they need to go or they tell you.
- They hold on for short periods and are able to get to the bathroom.
In order to encourage your child you can:
- Praise them when they make achievements and try not to punish for accidents or show your disappointment…it’s all part of the learning process
- Try and be a patient parent…it’s hard but so important.
- Don’t turn it into a rushed or a pressurised situation. If it becomes a negative experience they may struggle to be independent and the consequence of this may be that they regress or rebel.
- Do ask your child if they need to use the bathroom…often being engrossed in play can lead to forgetfulness.
Engage your child in the preparation:
- Keep the potty out for a while prior to actually starting training.
- Acclimatise your child by sitting them on it after you have changed them, before they go to bed or when they get out of the bath. Make this the routine you will follow when you actually start training. This will build on their confidence and eagerness to participate and teddy will enjoy it too.
At Jack in the Box Nursery we ensure the children are comfortable with the bathroom routine, encouraging as much independence as possible, from dressing themselves to washing and drying their hands. This allows them to feel in control of the situation and results in empowerment, raised self-esteem and confidence.
The children’s rooms are prepared with books and activities to promote self-help skills. This seamlessly reinforces children’s knowledge and understanding of potty training and their independence.
Our teams are sensitive to this process and each child will be supported depending on their needs and routines. We often advise against ‘pull ups’, as it is believed by children these are still a form of nappy and make the transition more difficult.
