Creativity 101

It can be a long haul

Some things in life can end up being very tedious and boring, especially if they take a long time. What may start out as fun can end up being drudgery and a chore over time. That's why, when it comes to potty training, it's of great value to become creative.

How can one become creative about something as mundane as going to the bathroom? When you're potty training a toddler, believe me, you need to be creative - so here are some ideas to help make the process more fun and less intense for both you and your little one.

Let's go shopping!

When the time comes for your child to begin the process of toilet training, you might try taking him shopping with you for his first potty seat. You get to decide whether you want to have a floor model or a top-of-the-seat model, however, if you let the child make some decisions about color or pattern on the seat, he will feel it belongs to him in a unique way. That might encourage more usage as well, especially if he thinks the whole thing is his idea.

Once the chair has been picked out, you could work together on pattern ideas for training pants and/or pull-ups. There may not be much in the way of choice for some of these things, but by letting him pick the package, again, he's taking a bit more ownership of the process. Having particular items in the bathroom, such as books or toys, put in a special spot that is his spot, helps him associate with the bathroom.

You've done well - rewards

Rewards are always a popular item. How will you reward and encourage your child to continue on with good practices - like letting go into the toilet, wiping afterward, flushing and hand washing? Some parents use charts and put stickers on the chart for every success. Little kids love stickers and this may be a fun way to encourage good hygienic practices.

Rewards reinforce good behavior - and they don't have to be candy or snack foods. Reward him by doing things with your child which are fun for him, like going to the play park or for a ride on his trike, coloring a picture together or reading a favorite story are great motivational tools for encouraging successful days.

One more idea

One more concept which may be worth a try is the use of a doll to help the child associate drinking and going to the bathroom. Most of us had them when we were little - baby dolls that took a bottle and then wet their diaper. This model is another way for your child to make the connection between drinking and going to the bathroom. Only, she gets to put the baby on the potty. The theory goes that if your child seeing the doll using the potty she'll get the concept and will start using it too.

Potty training is a necessary part of childhood development and anything that makes the job easier and more pleasant is worth the time to explore.

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