Making a potty training chart for your child

In collaboration with Rokiyah Hosen

Potty training can be a real burden for both child and parent. Fortunately, there are a few tricks you can use to make potty training a much more pleasant experience for your child.

What is a potty training chart?

The Montessori the Montessori method will help your childlearn to use the toilet on a regular basis. All you have to do is hang it up, and when he goes to the toilet, he'll stick on a label corresponding to the needs he's made. 

Is it a good idea to use a chalkboard for potty training?

The potty board is easy to make and set up. It helps children develop their independence. In particular, it's based ontoilet training using a timetable. In other words, toilet breaks are based on the child's daily routine rather than on a timer. 

Children will be encouraged and taught to go to the toilet when they wake up, before or after meals and naps, and between activities throughout the day. The aim is to enable the child to recognize the signals sent by his body. 

If the child requests it, he or she must be taken to the bathroom, regardless of the learning method used or the time of day.

When should you start using this learning chart?

The potty training chart is a great tool for potty training your child. But before you start using it, you need to be sure that your child is really ready for potty training. But how can you be sure? There are a number of signs you can look for, such as :

• The fact that your child shows an interest in the toilet, asks to go or wants to go with you;
• SHe asks for a clean diaper when his is dirty;
• SHe is able to hold his bladder for quite a long time (you can see this if, when you change him, his diaper is always dry, then quickly becomes full);
• SHe can pull his pants up and down by himself;
• It's estimated that most children are ready to potty train between 18 and 24 months. However, other children may not be able to potty train until they are 3 years old, as each child develops at his or her own pace.

How to use the potty training chart with your child?

Before you start using the potty training table with your child, you need to create an environment that is conducive to potty training. Once the environment is well prepared, you can start changing your child standing up. The advantage of stand-up diapers is that they enable your child to become more independent and autonomous , and to help you with the diaper change (e.g. by pulling down his pants, etc.).

Accompany your child during the first few days of use

In the beginning, it's best to plan frequent breaks. In fact, even if all the signals indicate that your child is ready to give up the diaper, a certain resistance may arise. If this resistance is too great, you can try again in a few weeks or months. Accidents can also happen at first, but they're not serious and you should continue to encourage your child, without punishing him or her. The aim is not to make potty training an unpleasant experience for your child, but to support him and keep him calm as he learns.

In fact, in the first days of learning, praise and rewards should not only be given when your child succeeds in going in the potty, but rather s'he succeeds in s'sitting on the potty.

Empowering your child

St's important to accompany your child when he or she first starts using the potty training chart, so that he or she gradually becomes more independent.

Make sure you have a well-equipped environment so he can learn properly. To help him become more autonomous, you can place a basket with potty training books or toys to pass the time while he's on the potty.

It's important to recognize your child's progress so that he or she can continue!

Use the board outside the house if necessary

If you're planning to travel, you can start with short outings (even better if you know of toilets on the way). Bear in mind lthat your child may not be comfortable l l with the idea of relieving himself in an unfamiliar public toilet.

You can plan to take along in your changing bag:

• A change of clothes ;
• Wipes;
• Diapers;
• And sometimes even a change of shoes.

Keep in mind the potty chart your child can fill in to keep track of his or her learning.

How do you make a potty training chart yourself?

If you'd like to set up a learning chart, you can find printable templates on the Internet, or use a blank sheet of paper to create a chart representing the days of the week.

Each time your child needs something, simply stick on a corresponding sticker or draw with him.

You may also like :

• Making a potty training chart for your child
• The best books for potty training your child
• Toilet training at night: how do you go about it?
• How do you learn potty training with Montessori teaching methods?