Are you experiencing toilet training problems with your preschooler?

Then I know something about your child.

Probably, she’s smart and creative.

After all, she’s still a child, she has got the adults in her life baffled (don’t worry, you’re not alone), and she is in total charge of preventing herself from being potty trained.

That’s a smart little cookie.

I had four smart little cookies. Two of whom were so smart they managed to stay un-potty trained for a couple of years after starting the process.

Sure I can laugh now, but at the time it wasn’t so funny!

So what’s the key to moving past toilet training problems when you have a little genius working against you?

Assuming you don’t have a medical condition at work here – check with your pediatrician to rule that out – two things will eventually help you get the results you want.

1. Taking responsibility.

Never forget the first rule of potty training: you, Mom or Dad, cannot MAKE your child go potty!

So don’t try.

Explain matter-of-factly to your preschooler that this potty stuff is really all about her.

It is her job to get herself to the potty chair and do her business. If she needs help, all she needs do is ask. But you won’t remind or nag her anymore.

Giving her something to work towards is always a good idea. Post a potty reward chart prominently in your home and let her collect stickers or stars or something similar every time she does what she’s supposed to do in regards to the potty.

Let her work towards a prize that will mean something to her; an extra book read by Daddy, a long cuddle time with Mommy, a trip to a park, a playdate with a special friend.

It is a good idea if you can fashion the prize to be only available if she stays on track with her potty business. In other words, it is an exclusive reward and can be only earned by moving forward on potty training.

2. Get out of his way.

As your smart cookie realizes he has to actually DO this business called potty training, you may encounter more resistance – temporarily.

After all, what’s more fun? Stopping what he’s doing every few hours to go and sit on the potty chair (boring) or needle Mom or Dad (lots of attention that way).

So don’t attempt to take responsibility back from your child by constantly reminding, nagging, sighing, throwing your hands up in the air, yelling, and all the other ways we parents reveal we don’t know what else to do.

If he has an accident (and he probably will) gently remind him to clean it up; help him if he needs you to, but have him do as much as possible for himself.

Yes, it is messy and inconvenient. That’s the working definition of parenting.

Toilet training problems are real and frustrating. For most children, potty problems involve a power struggle and as parents the solution is to show our children what to do and then get out of the way while still providing guidance.

Easier said than done, to be sure, but also great training for all the other times as parents we’re going to need to do the very same thing.

Potty troubles? Dive right in. Your smart and creative preschooler is waiting for you.

Author Bio: Colleen Langenfeld has potty trained four kids and helps other moms get more out of their mothering at http://www.paintedgold.com . Toilet train faster using her potty reward charts and creative ideas plus uncover more about toilet training problems by visiting her website now.

Category: Parenting
Keywords: toilet training problems,toilet training,potty training,potty chair