Home Hot Topics Articles Directors' Choice Awards About Us / Contact Us Activities & Curriculum Activities for Outcome-Based Learning Arts & Crafts Music for Learning Recommended Reading Sharing Boards: What Do YOU Think? NEWSlink Current National News Conference Calendar Topics In Early Childhood Education Art and Creativity in Early Childhood Education Job Sharing Board State Licensing Requirements Stay Connected! Each month we'll send you an email filled with articles and ideas for your classroom. Subscribe Now Date: 10/14/2006 11:05:00 AM Author: ECE Master Teacher / Program Director (nwgnrtns@cmc.net) Subject: Learning to use the toilet I agree with your three stages of potty development, and toileting readiness signs! What a relief to see a parent follow the child’s lead. If we look at the well known research on the eight stages of human development by Eric Erickson (the first four applying to child development); we learn toileting is a pivotal event in the child’s development. It occurs during the psychological conflict or crisis stage of Autonomy vs. shame or doubt. Usually occurring, over time between the ages of eighteen months, and three and one-half years of age. What the child learns when development proceeds successfully is “I can Make choices”. All too often in the child development setting I am asked to “train” children to use the toilet. I have had exceptional success with “helping children to learn” about using the toilet, rather than “training” as though they are a puppy, as though there should be some magic age when the child should be “trained”. Many parents are motivated to rush the process because of the cost of disposable diapers, the inconvenience of diapering, cultural influences, and pressure from society i.e. pier competition (“My child was potty trained at 14 months old” etc). Or, they have learned the rhythms of their child’s digestive system so well they themselves are trained to anticipate the child’s next elimination, and can “sit the child on the toilet” at that moment. In this case it is the parent who is trained folks not the child! In my years of experience, and from all I have studied on this topic, I find it is critical the child is first interested in using the toilet. Second capable of feeling the urge to go before they do, and then be able to control the urge long enough to get to the bathroom and remove their own pants, and use the toilet with minimal help from the teacher or Parent. I have seen many parents and teachers try to take the lead on this, and have little success and maximum frustration. In my experience it is best to let the child show you what they are ready for, and do not expect it to happen over night. I have seen children regress in many areas of their development if they are pushed into “sitting on the potty”, rather than offering them the choice to “put their potty in the toilet”. It is all about allowing the child to make the choice; and not allowing the process to become a power struggle. Many child development experts agree age two is a good time to start, and some are not ready or interested until about age three. I have had several three year olds just decide over night they are ready and just do it from that day forward. Others are fully capable of changing their own clothing totally by them selves at eighteen months and like to play at sitting on the toilet. Either case it has been my experience it is best to just follow the child’s lead; let them show you when they are interested and ready! Why fight it? Why be in a hurry to force growing up? By the way; how nice you can be home with your child and live in an area where it is safe to allow him to be naked out doors when the time is right. Most two or three year olds see nothing wrong with being naked outdoors at home, or any where for that matter! I have herd little boys in particularly love to “Target Practice” outdoors ;-) Name: Email: Subject

© 2007 Excelligence Learning Corporation, All Rights Reserved.