Adventures in Potty Training- Ready, Set, Go! Or Not?

Ready, Set, Go!

I am now a few days into potty training as I write this post. If you have been following my Adventures in Potty Training you know by now that I have had two totally different potty training experiences from two completely different children. This is my third time around potty training and yet again I am taking a different approach.

Years before I had children or a degree in education, I was a child-care assistant at a local day care for children 18 months - 2 years of age. (The lead teacher was actually a dear friend of mine so the chemistry in the room was fantastic!) With the parents consent, we began potty training these children by leading them to the potty at specific intervals throughout the day (before and after naps, lunch, etc.). With every one child's success came another one. Before you knew it there was a potty support group amongst the young toddlers! Most became potty trained before they moved on and into the next age group!

Why did this work? Taking your child to the bathroom when you know it's a logical time to go leads to more success. More success leads to more practice (so do failures- so don't get discouraged!) What also helped is that it was a supportive, relaxed atmosphere with a lot of peer pressure. Kind of what is going on with my third child now?

You can lead a toddler to the potty, but you can't make them go in it!

I have been potty training the Gavmeister for four days now. The first day ran pretty smooth with only a few minor glitches. He successfully went at least 3 times- one of them even being a poop! The second day- a few more successes and the third day- NOTHING! Nothing? how do you go from a huge start to an empty finish in three days? More importantly- why are you not discouraged?

It's normal. Actually it would worry me if he didn't go through this spurt of rebelliousness. It's a big thing for a toddler to change up there ways. Why would they want to- it's one more thing that they have to do for them self.

What I have been doing about it? I have continued to take the Gavmeister at our regular scheduled potty runs. Giving him encouraging words (although I want to say aloud "What? You should be a pro with this by now! What's going on man?") And praising him for his attempts. {Quick note- encourage and praise for attempts. Save the cheer-leading dances for true success!} He goes poop in his diaper? We just take it and drop it off into the potty and tell it this is where it goes. Potty training is not for the faint of heart.

Twice he told me "No!" when I asked him to go and try. I shrugged it off (well, to him. To me it felt like  a deep wound) and assured him that we would sit and try again later.

The absolute hardest part about potty training is wanting to wave the white flag in defeat when you have only just begun! Hopefully we will have better luck on day 5!

Adventures in Potty Training: Prep and Landing

If there is one piece of knowledge that I can pass on to parents embarking on the journey of potty training, it's this: Preparation and timing is EVERYTHING- execution is only secondary!

Prep- it's what's for breakfast! Preparation is vital and key for potty training to be successful for both coach and the newbie potty-goer. Take it from me and my first mistake with my first child and potty training. I did not educate myself or my child. Although I have read these following books twice- I felt compelled to pick them back up as a refresher course for the third time around. I suggest picking these books up for a good read:



Reading isn't only for adults! There are many potty books for children as well. Not only do they help with visuals and kid friendly explanations of how to use the potty- they also make a great read while trying to keep your tot in one place (like the potty) for a while. Here are some of our favorites:


What else have we been doing to prepare for the BIG Day?

• We have been using our potty talk. I am not ashamed to say that I don't mind talking poop. Every time we have a diaper change we simply talk about that his poop and pee (or bowel movement and urine) are going to be going into the potty soon and that he is a big boy now. We also talk about what body parts they come from.
• We brought out our toddler potty seat and the seat for the toilet. From my previous experience I'd rather have both on hand not knowing which one he will be more comfortable with!
• He has been taking off his own pants for diaper changes. Great practice for when the big moment happens. From my personal experience the ability to pull up and down his or her pants successfully independently is only a help for parents and not a total necessity for potty training.  I know some experts may disagree with that- but I had to help my first born with that a lot before he was able to do it solo. I was more concerned that he was able to tell me that he had to go- I could help with the rest.
• It is his mission to attend bathroom meetings. In other words we (we meaning everyone in the house) has been inviting him into their potty session and talking about it.

Any "Potty Pros" reading this post? What have you done to prep your little one?

Worms and Dirt Puppet Craft

Worms, unlike other garden animals, aid in the turning of soil and help plants grow. Teach your preschooler that worms play an important role to our environment and even try to find some friendly worms in the outdoors!

Worm and Dirt Kids Craft

Classified: Easy and is fun for the 3 year and up crowd.

Website: The Adventures of Herman the Worm

What you need:

• Dirt
• Pink, brown and green 9x12" Construction Paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Crayons *We used chalk

What to do:

1. Preparation: On the brown sheet of construction paper cut 2 four inch slits about 3" apart and about 4.5" from the top and bottom. Cut a 3x9" rectangle out of green construction paper. Draw a simple worm onto the pink sheet of paper.

2. Talk about worm facts. The Website listed is a great resource.
Book:
Go outside and find some worms. We made a worm habitat out of a clean soda liter bottle, moist dirt, grass and worms! Our worms were sent back home after a few nights stay!

3. Have your preschooler cut out their worm, and draw a face and dirt onto it. We used chalk and had a mini-lesson on shading by rubbing the chalk. It looks like the worm is dirty!

4. To make the grass: have your preschooler cut slits into the green rectangle and glue to the top of the 9x12" brown construction paper.

5. Using a glue stick, have your preschooler lightly coat the entire brown paper and adhere the dirt.

6. Slide the worm into place. To illustrate how worms move through dirt, demonstrate on how to make the worm puppet move in and out of the hole in the dirt.

Enjoy your slimy friends!

All School Should Start with Homeschool

Homeschool vs. Public School vs. Private School vs. Charter School - and the list of opportunities for your child's education can go on and on. Is one better than the other in regards to your child's education? 

As a teacher, I could argue points as to why a public school education could benefit your child. After working in the private (Catholic) sector for the last 5 years I could give you pointers as to why you would want to go this route. As a parent to three young children and observing family members who have decided to homeschool, I can explain the benefits there as well. The debate could go on forever, egos would be bruised, countless points would be proven and yet the decision still remains in the hands of the parents.

For today, we are going to set aside our differences in opinion and discuss the most important education of your child's life- the formative years before school; before they are able to read or write; before they can find the circumference of a circle. Those years belong to you, the parent.

You, {believe it or not} the parent, are your child's first educator...................

Regardless if you are aware of your role or not, your child is a sponge soaking up information that you share. When you announce to your child "Now, roll me the red ball!" You are not only interacting with your child, you are also teaching him in countless ways. First, you are giving him a lesson on how to take turns and illustrating cause and effect by rolling the ball back and forth. Secondly, by describing the "red" ball, you are also teaching your child colors.

The human child's mind is literally a sponge; soaking in and processing new information each day. When children are young they are not only willing but capable of learning various concepts that we present to them. Then why don't more parents put the cap and gown on their children and send them off to Harvard by age 3? 

Right now their main job is simple- to play. Play can provide so many great experiences- learning how to share and relate to one another, imagination and creativity, not to mention physical exercise. Teaching your young child does not have to be done by workbooks, flashcards or other formal learning systems. Young children learn best through self-exploration and play.

".....preschoolers learn differently from school-age children: play is essential to early learning. Play is the main way children learn and develop ideas about the world. It helps them build the skills necessary for critical thinking and leadership. It’s how they learn to solve problems and to feel good about their ability to learn." (Source)

Games, puzzles, books, crafts, free play and life experiences should all encompass your child's early education. Make each moment special as you interact with your child- remembering that is quality and not quantity that matters.

Don't forget that teaching the basics also include learning your address, phone number, full name, birth date, and manners aside from their ABC's and 123's!

The education that you chose for your child for their formal school years is solely based on what works for you and your family. Regardless of what educational path you chose, all school should start with your young child being homeschooled by you, his parent. You can provide your child with the ability to succeed, the self-esteem to conquer obstacles and the drive and determination to help them live out their dreams.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Classified: Mom suggests (but not limited to) fun learning products:
Books that teach letters, numbers, colors, shapes, etc.:


Board Games:


Puzzles:





Also, make sure to visit my Arts and Crafts and Resource Page for some learning craft and activities!