One of the things that makes potty training confusing for guys is that for such a simple task, it can become so chaotic. Ironically, teaching this “simple” thing can get pretty complex. On the upside, it involves something guys are a bit more comfortable with: making a schedule! That’s right. All those parents who potty-trained their children quickly were secretly working from a potty training schedule they developed. Here’s what you need to know to create the potty schedule.
Clear Your Own Schedule
Making a potty training schedule for your kid involves first clearing your own schedule. Seriously. The first few days of this are the most important, so having two or three days where you can be at home to help your kid will do a world of good.
Gather Your Tools
You’ll need special tools before you really get started. This includes an app or a clock with a timer function, as well as extra drinks for your kid, potty training chart, rewards and cleaning materials. The timer is so you can place your child on the potty every 20 or 30 minutes while the extra drinks encourage them to pee more often. And, of course, the cleaning materials are for the inevitable accidents.
Develop a Time Table
You should have a short-term and long-term plan for your potty training schedule. For instance, you may spend the first three days placing your kid on the potty every 20 or 30 minutes for all waking hours. After that, you start bumping the time up, placing them on the potty once every hour, then once every two hours. Also, we should rip the band-aid right off—the average time it takes to fully train a child to use the potty is three to six months. There are some lucky parents who do it in as little as three days, but your timetable should account for
how long this might realistically take.
Use Potty Training Charts and Rewards
It may seem like overkill, but one of the best things you can do to help potty train your child is to print off potty training charts. There are plenty of free potty training charts online, and it’s easy enough to make your own (possibly incorporating some of your child’s favorite characters). The charts usually include four items that your kid can check off. This includes whether they used the bathroom, whether they wiped themselves, whether they flushed the toilet, and whether they washed their hands or not. You can partner this with something like a potty training sticker chart where you put a new sticker on for every completed chart they bring back to you (or even for every checked item on the chart). You should also have a rewards system that offers things like candy or small toys as an award for good behavior. Overall, the idea is to make potty training seem fun and exciting to your children, while the charts establish a good routine for them. And things like stickers and toys help them realize there are tangible awards for learning this valuable skill.
See If They are Ready to Skip the Potty Training Schedule
When your child seems to be getting good at recognizing when they have to use the potty, it’s time to give them the challenge round. This means making small trips, whether it’s a simple walk around the neighborhood or a visit with a friend or family member. The key to this is starting small and working your way up. Maybe you take a walk for 25 minutes in between being on the potty, or maybe you spend 25 minutes walking to a nearby grocery store. It may seem scary, but these small trips are about building up your confidence as much as your child’s. Worst case, if there are frequent accidents, you can go back to the at-home-only potty training schedule until they are ready for these small jaunts. Best case, if they stay (mostly) accident-free, you can start going on longer trips together!
Additional Potty Training Resources:
The Harsh Truth About Potty Training Everything You Need to Know About Potty Training Charts
