Potty Training as a Team

3/2/2008 | by Bernie Dorsey

Most people know about teamwork.  In some form or another we’ve played, worked or volunteered for some sort of a “team.”  The sports pages are riddled with quotes from athletes saying, “we succeed only if we work as a team” or “achievement never matters to us as individuals, it only matters if we share it equally.”

Teamwork also can play an important role in parenting, especially when your child shows signs that he or she is ready to embark upon potty training.  With this milestone can come some challenges, but helping your kid move to Big Kid® is another opportunity to build on the teamwork you will use throughout your child’s life.

Here are some ideas to help strengthen teamwork during potty training:

• Dedicate the time.  Being on the potty training team is another great opportunity to spend quality time with your child.  Granted, helping your child learn these skills is not the most “fun” part of being a parent, but it helps solidify the message that, “I’m here, I care and I will help you do whatever it takes to succeed.”

• Be consistent.  If your family has a plan, follow it. It never helps the process if mom is doing one thing and dad is doing, or not doing, another.  Nothing is more frustrating for a parent than to be making progress on a plan and then have a slip up because your partner (mom or dad) isn’t on the same page.  The plan of course should be decided upon together, since good teams work together toward a common goal.

• Reconnect.  After time away, sit down together to concentrate on your child’s day, share in successes, and provide encouragement as a team if he or she has had a setback.

• Practice.  Good teamwork takes practice just like anything else so talk to each other, compromise on what the plan will be and commit to doing it together in support of your child.  Not only will if feel like less work, but it will feel like shared accomplishment.  Parenting is always more fun with a teammate.