How to Keep Your Child Confident During Potty-Training

Becoming fully potty trained is an important milestone in any child’s development. As a parent, it’s your role to provide the support and guidance that he or she needs to stay confident during the process to achieve success.

However, it may sometimes feel difficult to know exactly how to support your child. To help you, we’ve put together these tips for keeping your youngster confident during this transition to greater independence.

Reward the Right Behavior

You can incentivize your child to do the right thing during his or her potty training by offering some rewards for successful trips to the bathroom like a big boy or girl. Studies have shown the benefits of positive reinforcement on a child’s development. It improves motivation and drives growth. What can you offer your child as a reward? Common examples include a jar to which a marble is added after each successful bathroom visit, taking a walk for ice cream after a day of no accidents or simply praising your child for a job well done.

Personalize the Experience

Letting your child choose the décor in the toilet helps them complete their potty training more quickly. When a child can decorate the environment on their own, it instills a sense of ownership and more emotional investment in the process. Let them choose stickers or other little touches that soothe them and help them relax.

Don’t Be Indecisive

Your child will naturally look to you to guide them through the process. When you exhibit conviction and will, those qualities transfer to your child by proxy. Streamline the process by designing the potty schedule for the day. Help your child keep track of when he or she usually needs to use the toilet. It will reduce stress on your child if you keep potty time simple and straightforward.

Big-Kid Underwear Brings Confidence

To build your child’s confidence, reward them and stroke their ego by buying them some big-kid underwear as soon as they make the slightest progress. Although it’s still leak-proof, they’ll be diaper-free. That will make them feel all grown up and greatly facilitate the learning curve.

When it’s done right, potty training will leave your child stronger and more independent. You can help launch your child into early success by following the tips outlined here to facilitate the process. Remember to stay strong and positive, always reward your child when they make a successful potty trip and organize all potty-related activities around a schedule that will be easy for your child to stick to and remember.

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