How to Keep Potty Training Light-Hearted
1/1/1987 | by Dave Hagler
Potty training is a big, important milestone in your child's life. If you wait too long to begin training, or start too early, or go about it the wrong way, your child could go through their entire childhood, adolescence, and maybe even adulthood in diapers. OK, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration. In all seriousness, potty training is a stage of development that every child eventually makes it through. Like crawling, walking, or talking, some will start early, some will start later. But eventually, they all get there. It's important to keep this perspective in mind as you go through potty training with your child.
In hindsight, you might actually look back at potty training as a fun time. Take lots of pictures, videos and write down the stories so you can look back one day and laugh. Maybe give them to your child as keepsakes on their wedding day. Right now, peeing on the carpet and smearing poop on the wall are anything but a source of comedy. But in 20 years, trust me, it will seem funny. Your child will enjoy seeing you do The Potty Dance with them!
As a Pull-Ups® Potty Training Partner, I have seen some parents in a virtual panic because their three year old is showing no interest in the potty. My advice to them is to relax, not put so much pressure on themselves or their child, and just trust it will happen eventually. Another reason to not take potty training too seriously is that it may actually help it happen faster. Kids watch our behaviors and emotions closely, and key off them. If you are relaxed and having a good time, they will relax and look at potty training as just another fun activity you do together.
So, what are some ways to have fun with potty training? A good place to start is right here on the Pull-Ups® Web site with The Potty Dance video, song, and dance steps, which are sure to help you find your inner toddler. What if dancing isn't your thing? How about a potty party? Invite all your friends with toddlers to visit and they can BYOP - Bring Your Own Potty. When your toddler sees all the other kids doing it, they will want to join right in. If you have a boy, put round cereal in the water and let him use it for target practice. He'll be having so much fun he'll forget all the pressure of potty training. For boys or girls, put some drops of blue food coloring in the water, and watch as yellow and blue make green.
Sure, potty training can be hard work. But that doesn't mean you can't make it fun. Like many parts of parenting, it all comes down to your attitude and not taking it too seriously. After all, what's the worst that can happen? It's not like they'll go to college in diapers.
