How to motivate kids to potty train

 

Many parents like to use stickers or candy as rewards for potty training, and if that works for your family, that's great. Others prefer non-material rewards such as praise and spending special time with kids. Maybe a combination of both might work as well. This article discusses some ideas for non-material rewards.

Sometimes we all need a little help to stay motivated and achieve certain things, and doesn't it feel good to reward yourself every now and then? Taking a well-deserved night off after a hectic time or going out on Fridays after a long week at work are ways we can reward ourselves for doing something that may be challenging for us. Children need rewards too - even though their idea of what a reward is might be different from ours! When it comes to potty training, rewards can be helpful - especially if your child needs a little extra motivation.

For you, the rewards of potty training include having a more independent child, saving money on diapers, and best of all, no more changing diapers! Toddlers who potty train may not yet be intrinsically motivated and they are not old enough to have learned that sometimes we have to do things that challenge us. We as parents must always be one step ahead so that we can motivate our child to do the work. The question is: "How to motivate your child the right way?”

For these young toddlers, you may be able to get by with some minor incentives. One that might work wonders is the good old potty party. Scream and jump up and down every time your child succeeds in using the potty. Tell them how wonderful they are and what a good job they have done. Some kids enjoy it so much that they go to potty often just so they could have a potty party for themselves. I mean, who in the world wouldn't love to hear all the time how wonderful they are?

Another great intangible reward that children love is the special time they spend with a parent. If they succeed in potty training that day, they can have extra stories told at bedtime or stay up late watching a special show. A special trip to the library or park, can also motivate them to do a better job.

Sometimes it may seem that you just can't find the right motivator. If that is the case, there is always the possibility that your child is simply not ready to potty train. They need to be both physically and emotionally ready to start potty training. So if they don't have much success, you may just have to wait a little and try again in a few months.