Potty training represents one of the earliest forms of adaptive learning and in the past, it was often used to determine the “mental aptitude” of a child. In fact, studies have shown that more than 60 per cent of children are fully potty trained at 36 months. However, some will naturally progress faster than others. As a parent, should you be concerned if your little one seems to be lagging behind?
This is actually much more of a common occurrence than you may realise and in the majority of cases, it is no cause for alarm. Let us therefore examine what the professionals have to say before concluding with some practical advice.
Why Might Delays Occur?
There are several reasons why your child might have difficulty adapting to potty training. Some have simply not yet reached the developmental level necessary to acquire this school (after all, each child learns at his or her own pace). However, this does not necessarily signify that a problem exists.
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Another lesser-known issue could involve a slight amount of mental resistance. Some children perceive potty training as a means to control their activities and thus, they may choose to passively “rebel” by deliberately not following your instructions.
In rare cases, difficulties with potty training may be associated with a real-world condition such as slight constipation (not at all uncommon when dealing with toddlers). While this is no cause for alarm, it is still a good idea to speak with a doctor in order to determine what solutions are available.
Accidents Still Happen
Another common mistake which some parents make is assuming that a child will be fully potty trained by a certain age. On the contrary, even children who are four or five years old can still have accidents on occasion. This could be caused by an upset stomach or simply due to the fact that they were preoccupied with a fun activity. Once again, this is perfectly natural and it should not be viewed as any type of failure.
What Additional Steps Can You Take?
One excellent recommendation is to monitor the progress of your child once potty training is introduced. For instance, targeted EYFS tracking by Educater will provide you with a proactive means to record daily schedules and to identify any variables that might be impacting the learning process. Here are some other practical suggestions:
- Place the toilet in a familiar and convenient location.
- Try to create a regular daily schedule.
- Invent a potty-training song or rhyme.
- Heap praise upon your child for a job well done.
- Avoiding chastising him or her in the event that an accident occurs.
Every adult learns new skills at a unique pace and this is just as true in terms of potty training a child. As always, do not hesitate to refer back to the information outlined above in order to start off in the right direction.
Note: This is a collaborative post
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