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"The thing that impresses me most about North America is the way parents obey their children"    (King Edward VII , 1841-1910)

Relationships matter:  change comes through forming trusting relationships. People, not programs change people.

Don't wait for him to turn 10 before you reveal that you are not in fact the hired help whose job it is to clean up after him.

Good parenting requires sacrifice. Childhood lasts for only a few brief years , but it should be given priority while it is passing before your eyes

Children today are under enormous pressures rarely experienced by their parents or grandparents. Many of today's children are being enticed to grow up too quickly and are encountering challenges for which they are totally unprepared.

If it  was going to be easy to raise kids, it never would have started with something called "labour".

"Unexpressed feeling never die. They are buried alive and come back later in ugly ways." (Stephen Covey)

The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice. (Peggy O'Mara)

The quickest way to change your child’s behaviour is to first change your own.

We should not medicate the boys so they fit the school; we should change the school to fit the boy. (Leonard Sax, M.D. Ph.D)

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Toilet Training (part 3)

 

 

You would be wise to read my 2 previous postings about toilet training as a review before attempting this actual routine.

Remember you can’t go far wrong:

  1. if you don’t start too early
  2. if you don’t force the child
  3. if you don’t panic

Step # 1

Does he know he’s wet? Modern disposable diapers are too comfortable. I recommend that you use training pants as wet pants are cold, itchy and uncomfortable. You want your child to be aware of that wet, icky feeling.

Step # 2

Once he has developed an awareness of being uncomfortable when wet, have him sit regularly on the potty:

  • before and after meals
  • before and after playtime

Give him some books to look at and  sit on the floor beside him and talk about the books            ( make it a pleasant time for you and the child)

Some children are enthused and motivated to use the potty and some are not. It is pointless to fight with the child if he is fighting with you.

Step # 3

If the child relieves himself in the potty, reinforce him (some suggestions for reinforcement could include: praise,  phoning daddy at work,   phoning grandma,  a jelly bean,  a small trinket, etc.

Don’t force the situation. If he does not “go” in the potty, do not  make him stay too long but put him on again in a short while.  In the event of an accident, do not scold or punish the child, just continue the routine in a loving and supportive way

If it is obviously not going to work for him, put the potty away for a few weeks and try again later.

If he continue to have trouble, it would be wise to consult with his pediatrician to ensure there is no medical problem.

He WILL eventually master this skill !

Trying to rush toilet training is like trying to hurry hair growth. It just doesn’t work.

What parents need most are ideas because with ideas we get options.

Rick Harper has been providing ideas for over 40 years.

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This full day or 2 evening workshop will introduce you […]

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+ A Parent’s Guide to the Teenage Brain

  A teenager’s brain is not just an adult brain […]

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+ Reading Rescue

A program for children with reading problems

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+ A Guided Tour of ADHD (now available online)

This workshop will present the facts, myths, misconceptions, controversy and […]

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2720 Rath Street, Putnam, Ontario
NOL 2BO

Phone: (519) 485-4678
Fax: (519) 485-0281

Email: info@rickharper.ca

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“We are foster parents who took in a 13 year old girl (going on 18!) and she ran us through the wringer. Rick helped us learn how to set limits that made the difference.”

(G.E. – Strathroy)