Potty Training

 
 
 

We are happy to be a part of your child’s developmental milestones and support your efforts to help your child learn to use the bathroom independently. Potty training is a journey filled with both excitement and challenges, so we wanted to provide a little information you might find useful and the items you’ll need to provide. Not sure when to start? The average age for potty training is between 2 and 3 years old according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, so we support potty training once your child transitions to the toddler classrooms. Here are some things they say to look for:

  • Is dry at least 2 hours at a time during the day or is dry after naps

  • Shows signs they are about to pee or poop, like grunting, freezing, or squatting

  • Can follow simple instructions

  • Can walk to and from the bathroom and help undress themselves

  • Does not like to be in wet diapers and wants to be changed

  • Asks to use the toilet or potty-chair

  • Asks to wear "big-kid" underwear

There is also a list of 13 potty training tips so be sure to check the article out and take a look at other resources online. Once you’ve decided your child is ready, communicating your intentions with us in advance will help us provide the best support. According to this Parents.com article routine is a huge piece of the potty training success, so we’ll do our best to make sure what we’re doing at school lines up with what you’re doing at home.

Also, please start potty training on a Saturday morning. This will give your child some time to adapt while at home…plus you’ll have a better understanding of what works well and where they may be struggling. We will continue supporting them while at school including taking them to the bathroom every 20-25 minutes. Communication, consistency, and positive reinforcement are important during the learning process…and a lot of patience sometimes too! Use the center messaging app to let us know how things are going at home and we will do the same while they are here.

 
 

Please bring the following items on the first day:

  • 5-7 extra pairs of clothing

    • Underwear, pants and shirts to leave in their cubby just in case they have accidents.

    • We will send soiled clothes home in a plastic bag.

    • Please replace items that we send home with clean ones the following day so we always have enough on hand.

  • Water shoes (or plastic shoes similar to Crocs) that will be okay if they get wet.

  • Rewards (if desired)

    • Used to celebrate when they go on the potty.

    • Stickers, M&Ms or something else you know they like.

    • Keep in mind there could be other children potty training at the same time whose parents may use different techniques.

  • Pull-ups or diapers (to use during nap time)

    • Used only until they are consistently dry when they wake up.

    • When they wake up we will have them go potty and will remove the pull-up/diaper.

 
 
 

Did we miss something on this list that you ended up needing? Was something not quite clear that we could have worded better?
Send us a quick message so we can update the list for the rest of the families.