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About Children
Potty Training the No-Cry Way
From The No-Cry Potty Training Solution by Elizabeth
Pantley
At the start of the grand adventure that is teaching a child to use the
toilet, many parents wonder how they'll ever accomplish such a complex
feat. They watch their toddler with his brand-new potty bowl on
his head and doubt the sanity that convinced them to purchase it in the
first place. The good news is that the vast majority of children
are able to master daytime toileting by the age of three-and-a-half or
so, and for most families it's a pleasant, even fun experience.
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Potty Training Praise and Encouragement
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When your child is learning to use the potty should you give lots of
applause and praise, or simple, matter-of-fact acceptance? Which is the
right response for potty-training success? If you research this
seemingly simple question you'll get adamant advice on both ends of the
spectrum. Some experts say you should give lots and lots of positive
feedback, including a party-like atmosphere - with noisemakers, cake and
party hats. Others say you should avoid getting overly excited or
emotional and simply acknowledge in a calm way that he's done well.
What's the right answer to "How much praise?"
Teaching your child how to use the toilet can, and should, be as natural
as teaching him to build a block tower or use a spoon. Don't overthink
the details.
The right answer to "How much praise" is that the right answer is
different for every parent and child pair. Some parents are naturally
more enthusiastic about everything their child does whether it's taking
the first step, building a block tower or tinkling in the potty. Other
parents tend to be more reserved.
Children need different things from their parents, too. Some children
thrive on their parent's energy and will do anything for a round of
applause; other children are easily overwhelmed and prefer more subtle
praise. Even two different children in the same family will respond
better to different levels of enthusiasm.
Probably the best advice is to do what comes naturally and what seems to
encourage your child to keep trying. What's most important is that you
want your child to know that you support him, and that you are proud of
his efforts along the way, as well as his successes.
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A
reminder to be patient!
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This whole potty-training process takes time. On average, it takes three
to twelve months from the start of training to daytime toilet
independence. The more readiness skills that a child possesses, the
quicker the process will be.
Keep in mind that the age that a child masters toileting has absolutely
no correlation to future abilities or intelligence. Some of the
brightest kids take the longest to potty train!
You probably won't feel confident to completely turn over your child's
toileting to him for many months. So, relax, be patient, and enjoy the
journey. Children are only little for a very short time - it's nice to
enjoy and embrace every single moment.
Excerpted with permission by McGraw-Hill
Publishing
from The No-Cry Potty Training Solution (McGraw-Hill) by Elizabeth Pantley
Robert and Elizabeth
Pantley with their four children.
Click
here to visit
Elizabeth's web site and peruse her full range of books and services.
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Parenting educator Elizabeth Pantley is president of Better Beginnings Inc., a
family resource and education company. Pantley frequently speaks to
parents in schools, hospitals, and parent groups, and her presentations are
received with enthusiasm and praise. |
'Behold, I will bring them from the north country, And gather them
from the ends of the earth,
Among them the blind and the lame,
The woman with child and The one who labors with child, together,
A
great throng shall return there...And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the LORD.'
Jeremiah 31:8, 14
~~~
©2013 Charis Childbirth
Services, All Rights Reserved
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leaving all attribution intact.
June 2013
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