Here in North America we tend to potty train children as toddlers, often being told this is the most developmentally appropriate practice. However, in the Elimination Communication community, and in other cultures around the world, they train much earlier. We take a look at some of those practices and examine the rationale behind them. Continue reading
Tag Archives: colleen
Potty Training with a Signing Time Academy Instructor
As told to Colleen Brunetti, MEd
Our fantastic Signing Time Academy instructors are using Potty Time right along with you and their clients!
Meet Elisha Hamburger. Elisha is an Academy instructor in Holden, MA (you can contact her HERE) and she had this to share:
I have 2 daughters; Lucy who is 4 and has special needs and Macy who is 3. They both love Signing Time so I was thrilled when Potty Time came out! I know Lucy will take longer due to her developmental delays, but she loves the video and signs potty. Continue reading
Potty Training Success: A Child with Special Needs
We hear a lot of wonderful stories over on the Potty Time Facebook page. One in particular that stood out to me came from mom Denille, about her son Quinn (now 39 months).
My son is 37-months and loves Potty Time just as much as he has loved his entire Baby Signing Time and Signing Time DVDs. Although he is still scared to sit on the potty (he has Down syndrome and we do things on our own timetable), he seems excited about the new
Quinn at the beach
signs and is stringing them together to communicate in new ways. Today he signed “Body Amazing Time Thirsty” and then signed “drink milk please”. He signs “Potty, wipe, flush, wash” when someone else goes to the bathroom. Potty Time is helping him make more connections and communicate about his world- yet another step toward independence and potty training. Our path will no doubt be easier and filled with more fun and songs because of Potty Time. Thank you!! Continue reading
Community Questions
Here’s another question/comment from our Facebook community:
“I don’t know what to do about the regression. It’s so frustrating.
Regression is frustrating, no doubt! Just when you think you’ve gotten somewhere with this whole potty training thing, your sweet little ones get another idea in their heads and it’s back to accidents, wet clothes, and maybe even diapers.
Public Restrooms
A couple of days ago we had a little fun with the horrors of public restrooms.
Today let’s look at a little bit more serious side of things, a decision that comes after the potty training is more or less complete: When do you allow your child to visit a public restroom alone? Continue reading
It Just Might be My Worst Nightmare…
By definition, I am not a germ-phobe. I don’t carry sanitizer in my purse, although I occasionally have aspirations of doing so, and I don’t even (gasp!) make my kid wash his hands before every snack at home (but most snacks and meals, yes). In fact, I am solidly in the camp of “A little dirt is good for them! It builds the immune system!”
But what gives me the willies more than anything else (besides large hairy spiders) is public restrooms. Let’s all pause for a collective shudder. I don’t care if you are in the nicest place in the world, all public bathrooms are gross-gross-gross!
I was like this before having a kid. But once my son was potty training, I realized that public bathrooms are in fact the stuff of nightmares. I don’t care how wonderful a parent you are, it is impossible to simultaneously handle an active toddler/preschooler, their clothes, the (filthy) fixtures, not touch anything yourself and, most importantly, shield your precious little one from what is sure to be some form of the plague.
I could go on and on, but Amber Dusick of Parenting Illustrated with Crappy Pictures does a much better job describing the true horrors. Enjoy!
BLOG: Public toilets vs newly potty trained boys and girls
How about you? Any funny potty training in public restroom stories to share?
Editor’s Note: We here at Potty Time really believe potty training comes with a sense of humor. This blog link is one perspective from a parent who writes with a certain sense of humor of her own. Any opinions or choice of words do not necessarily reflect the position of Potty Time or it’s affiliates.
A Potty Training Success Story
As told to Colleen Brunetti, MEd
Monica Blouin, a Signing Time Academy Instructor with her buisness, Lil Miracles Academy, and Potty Time enthusiast recently shared with us her very early and exciting success with Potty Time.
Monica is Mommy to two-year old Jack and four-year old Madie, who has Down syndrome. As she says, potty training in her house “has not been great”, with two in diapers, and one of those children having special needs. They don’t make diapers in Madie’s size and it’s been challenging.
Soon after Potty Time arrived at her door, Monica shared this exciting news on facebook: Continue reading
Potty Training Al Fresco
Adventures in Potty Training a Spirited Child
I may be your resident Potty Time Specialist, but that sure doesn’t mean potty training came easy at our house. Quite the opposite, actually. Let’s just say it took so long that I had lots and lots and lots of time to learn a variety of methods.
Starting Preschool
You see, my son Aidan is what they call “spirited”, downright energetic and more than just a little strong-willed (gee whiz, I have no idea where he could have gotten all that from!)
Anyway, what was most challenging about training him is that life is super-duper exciting to him, and there’s just so much interesting playing and running and jumping to do. To be bothered by struggling with cumbersome clothes and to “stop and go” at all was a concept he struggled with… a lot. Continue reading
We Love Our Facebook Fans!
Facebook is all lit up with early celebrations and success stories from Potty Time! See what some of our fans have to say…
My 22 month old has shown no interest in potty training so we haven’t pushed it AT ALL. I bought Potty Time as soon as it was out and my son has been watching it every day at least once, but usually closer to 3-5 times a day (what can I say…he likes Rachel). Well, in that short time, (what 10 days?) my son asked to sit on the potty yesterday and he went #2. Today he asked and he went #1. I’m sure you can imagine how astonished I am. (Terri R.)
Potty Training 101
Potty training can be a little bit of trial and error. One method may work for one child and not for another. That’s why we created the Potty Time program to support whatever method you use. It is so easy to use on the My Signing Time app – on the go watching for anywhere in your home or away.
In this list of tips, our wonderful Signing Time fans share their thoughts on what worked best for them. Continue reading