| Diapers costing you a fortune? It may be time to | | | | potty training and you are working on night training, |
| tackle one of the most important challenges in your | | | | again take them to the |
| young child's life... the dreaded potty training | | | | store and have them pick out something special to |
| experience.One of the most common questions that | | | | them, a stuffed animal, newvideo, a new book, |
| I am asked is in regards to subject. Many parents will | | | | game, truck, barbie, etc. Tell them that once they |
| ask me something like this:"Do you have any tips on | | | | are dry |
| potty training a two year old, that has no desire to | | | | all the time and have no more diapers then you and |
| try?"I have been very lucky in my own four children | | | | your child will go purchase |
| that they potty trained literally | | | | that special item, "because they are a BIG boy or |
| on their own, but I have had several daycare kids | | | | GIRL." I can't stress enough |
| that were not as interested in | | | | to involve them and make them feel important!!!If |
| this phase of their little lives.First of all I know that | | | | you child is hestitate about even sitting on the potty, |
| everyone says not to push them, but it is very true. | | | | do not push them, but |
| DO | | | | make a big deal out of it, when he/she does finally |
| NOT try and force the issue. As a parent we must | | | | sit on the potty. Encourage |
| learn to pick our battles with | | | | him/her to sit on the potty with their diaper on at |
| our children and this is one that is not easily won, if | | | | first if they are too afraid. |
| they are not ready for | | | | Gradually work to take the diaper off of them when |
| it. I started out with "Potty Training" books. There | | | | they are on the potty. Also |
| are a lot of different | | | | look for the signs that your child may have that |
| ones out there at your local library, or bookstores (I | | | | they are about to go potty in |
| saw a cute hardcover one | | | | their diaper, and then ask them then if they want to |
| at Wal-Mart yesterday called "I Have To Go Potty!" | | | | go use the potty (remind |
| It was under $8.00). There | | | | them of the treat at the end if they do go). |
| are also many different videos on this topic as well, | | | | Reward them for every little step |
| I know that Dora, and | | | | that they take, so that they feel important. I use to |
| Barney have their own videos on potty | | | | make up a potty dance with |
| training.Second, talk to your child about the potty in | | | | my kids. Every time after they went, we would do |
| their language. For example: | | | | the potty dance together, and |
| "Mommy and Daddy go pee pee and poopy on the | | | | many times even after I went to the bathroom, my |
| potty, do you think sometime you | | | | kids would do the potty dance |
| want to go potty too like Mommy and Daddy?" | | | | for me, because they were then proud of my |
| Make any conversation with them at | | | | accomplishment as well. This may |
| their level and also answer their questions if they | | | | sound corny, but it is a great way to motivate your |
| have any.Third, this is a HUGE deal, so make a big | | | | children in not just potty |
| deal out of it. Take your child | | | | training, but I'll save that for another article.You can |
| shopping, have them help in picking out the potty | | | | never encourage your children enough in anything, so |
| chair or a package of their | | | | start the |
| very own "Big Kid" underwear. Also make sure that | | | | cheerleading team and "GO POTTY |
| you have rewards for them. | | | | TRAIN!"Remember, stay positive, go slow and have |
| Whether this be M&M's, dum dum suckers, skittles, | | | | fun with you child during this trying |
| raisins, whatever is a | | | | process! Good Luck.Tammi Kauppinen is a proud |
| motivator to your child. Purchase those items with | | | | stay at home mom with five wonderful children. |
| your child and make sure to | | | | After graduating from the University of Wisconsin - |
| remind them, that the candy is for after they go | | | | Whitewater with a degree in Special Education, she |
| potty on the potty. (If you do | | | | decided to find a way to stay home and raise her |
| purchase candy, make sure it is something little that | | | | children. That hasn't kept her from working with kids! |
| you can easily manage, | | | | She has run an in-home day care for ten years, |
| because if you give them a whole bag of M&M's | | | | worked in variety of school districts with children with |
| each time they go potty, you will | | | | special needs, acted as a foster parent to teenage |
| have one hyper child, just a few m&m's or skittles | | | | boys and as a respite provider for other foster |
| at a time and that is why if | | | | children. She continues to work with children - |
| you purchase suckers go with the smaller ones.) | | | | including her own - on a daily basis and publishes a |
| Once your child has the hang of | | | | weekly email on stay at home mom tips. |