Help with Potty Training
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It may be frustrating when your three-year-old resists potty training. Potty training can be a difficult task, especially with a child who is unwilling to learn. Certain steps can increase your chances of success.
Use positive reinforcement
Sometimes pure and simple bribery is the best way to encourage potty training, especially in a three-year-old who can better understand the concept of rewards than a younger child. The rewards can take many different forms. Some parents will give their children a small treat when they use the potty. It can be something small such as a chocolate chip or even a piece of cookie cereal. If you do not want him or her eating sweets, then you can try small and inexpensive prizes such as stickers or dollar store prizes. Some parent even find luck with hand stamps. You can also use a system of points and allow the child to “build up” or even “buy” larger prizes. You can make a chart with checks for when he or she uses the potty.
Talk to your child
There may be some activities that your child can’t participate in because he or she is not potty trained. Explain this to your child and tell him that he can participate when he starts using the potty. You can also use a trip to somewhere special as positive reinforcement.
Utilize a role model’s help
Your child may look up to other relatives or older children such as siblings or cousins. Enlist their help to get the child to want to potty train. Your child may want to be just like his or her older relative or friend. You can have him or her talk to your child or heap loads of praise if he or she will use the potty.
Make it fun to use the potty
Different techniques can make your child enjoy using the potty. You can buy a potty seat with a favorite character on it or even one that makes noise. You can also try to turn it into a game like who is going to get to the potty first.
Use potty training books and videos
You will find many different books and videos on potty training, some with popular characters such as Elmo. Read and show these to your child. These may help change your child’s mind about potty training.
Potty training a resistant three-year-old can be difficult, but you are far from alone. Try various strategies until you find the one that works for you.