Lorna Whiston Pre-School

Most children are ready to begin toilet training between the ages of 18 and 24 months. However the best indication that your child is ready to be toilet trained is when he shows an interest in using the toilet or when he shows irritation at wearing diapers or being wet. For all toddlers, it is best to aim first for staying dry during the daytime. Staying dry at night will usually come later.

Take the cue to start training from your child and resist the urge to compare notes with other parents. Children are ready for toilet training at different times and it does not mean that your child is not developing quickly enough just because he would still prefer to use diapers!
Avoid beginning toilet training when your child is adjusting to another change in his life. Starting a new school, getting used to a new carer, having a new baby in the house...all of these events can be stressful for your child and therefore it is best to wait until your child feels in settled with his new situation before starting toilet training.
Once you start daytime toilet training, schedule in frequent trips to the bathroom. You can't force your child to "produce", but you can encourage him to practise. Have your child sit on the toilet or potty for 2 to 4 minutes every hour or so. Schedule these sittings close to times your child usually has a bowel movement or urination, such as just after a meal, snack or nap. After 2-4 minutes, if he still hasn't "performed", leave it and try again a little later.
If your child protests strongly when you suggest s/he return to the toilet, don't nag or insist. Such resistance may mean that it is not the right time to start training.
Involve your child in getting dressed/undressed.Let your child practise the action of lowering and raising his underwear so that he well prepared in an emergency.
Let your child learn from you and others. Children are great imitators and if they see you or their brother or sister using the toilet, they are more likely to want to copy.
Role play the toilet raining process using a stuffed toy. By being involved in imaginative play and acting out toilet training with the stuffed toy, the child will become more familiar with toileting routines and will feel more in control of this new situation.
Praise your child for trying, even if you don't get the results you hoped for, and NEVER scold him if he has a little accident as this could set him back several weeks or even months.
Prevent the toilet door from closing or locking and thus frightening a child by putting a towel over the top of the bathroom door.
Respect your child's feelings and privacy. Toilet training focuses on the most personal and private parts of your child's body so proceed in a dignified respectful manner.
Decide which words you are going to use with the toilet training process and how you are going to describe body parts, urine and bowel movements. Avoid using negative words like "dirty," "naughty," or "smelly" to describe waste products. These negative terms can make your child feel ashamed and self-conscious. Treat urination and bowel movements in a simple, matter-of-fact manner.
Seize toilet training as an opportunity to look at a good book! Just as some adults enjoy reading materials while sitting on the toilet, a toddler's favorite book can help the minutes quickly pass.
Last but not least, make toilet training light-hearted and fun. Like any new skill, it takes perserverence and time.

A parent is a child's first and most important teacher. Enjoy the time you spend with your child and make it meaningful and fun.

Encourage young children to express their thoughts and feelings verbally. Make the time to really listen to your child and respond appropriately. This will show the child that his thoughts are valued and will help develop self-esteem.

Try to set aside at least fifteen minutes a day to read to your child. An early exposure to books and stories is a great way to develop a strong vocabulary, a vivid imagination and an avid interest in literature. Choose books with large clear print, an interesting story line and colourful illustrations. Repetitive texts or books with a strong prediction element will appeal to preschoolers.

Seize everyday opportunities to practise counting and number skills. For instance, when you are outside with your child, see how many red cars you can see. Look for patterns and shapes in the environment - the stripes on a zebra crossing, the shapes of leaves. Make it into a game, rather than a drill. Remember .... children learn best when learning is fun!

Don't be afraid to get messy with your child. Get out the paints and have some fun! Encourage your child to express herself freely: it doesn't matter if her picture of a dog looks nothing like a dog to you: the child is learning through the process, and it is the process, not the product, that counts.

A parent is a child's first and most important teacher. Enjoy the time you spend with your child and make it meaningful and fun.

Tips on toilet training.