3 Easy Tools to Potty Train a Toddler-The Montessori Way
The space should be set up for the child to have access to soap and water completely on their own.
1. Create “big kid” activities to do in the bathroom! Additional activities will make the child feel more at home in the bathroom. The more comfortable the child feels in this room of the house the more naturally they will transition into toilet training on their own. Some options are:
Keep a stool in the bathroom.
Allow water play in the sink while you are getting ready.
Have a set of child-size grooming supplies and a mirror available for the child to participate in the morning routine.
2. Keep a clean and dirty basket near the child’s potty. Once your little one is ready to fully potty train, put them in underwear and pants. Keep one basket of clean clothes and one basket for dirty clothes in the bathroom. When the child has an accident guide them to the bathroom and allow them to completely change themselves offering help only if they are feeling emotionally overwhelmed. The process of changing themselves holds the child accountable and adds a lesson to the event. You can also ask the little one to help clean any messes on the floor from the accident also. When they have involvement in the process, they have ownership of the process also. Not the adult.
3. No pressure, no reward, no punishment. Take all YOUR EMOTION out of the process! Change the way you talk about using the potty. When they are first learning, instead of asking ‘Do you need to go potty?’ state ‘Its time to go potty’. I’m the event of an accident simply respond, ‘I see you are wet, let’s go get some dry clothes.’ and jump back to step
Nothing more, no fluff.
