Rewards is a problematic method for many parents.Personaly I think that when you do it in the right porportion, it is OK. THe rewards don’t have to be amazing. There all sorts of rewards that will do the job. The important think is to adjust the rewards to your child’s personality and contain incentives that will be important to them.
We are also recommending using a potty chart on your refrigerator or in your bathroom and ebery time your child successfully goes on the potty, let them place a sticker on the chart. If they reach a certain amount of stickers, you can give them a small prize.
Sometimes, when you are not sure which reward will work as an incentive, you can ask your child what s/he would like. They know what they like the best and if they want it bad enough, they’ll sure work hard to get it!
When your child’s visits to the bathroom become routine, you can gradually phase out the rewards.
Keep in mind that every child is different and sometimes rewards will not work. You need to find what works for your child!
Rewards are great, but for toddlers the real reward will always be your approval.
Praising with words
Praising words can be great for your toddler:
- It boosts their self-esteem
- raise their confidence
- and be a huge motivator for them.
- It can also promote an atmosphere of comfort for them.
praise your child as often as you can – not just during potty training.
Here are a few things to remember when you are using words for positive reinforcement:
- Don’t just use words – You can also use physical reinforcement in the form of hugs while you’re giving out that praise. Clap and say words like “Good for you”, “What a big boy/girl”, “You went on the potty – YAY!” and such.
- Staying dry is hard too – praise them when they stay dry too. Check his/her pants every hour or so and let him/her know how great it is that s/he’s stayed dry.
- Be silly -You can create a song and dance routines for every time your child use the potty. Being silly always works with kids.
- It’s all about introduction – When it’s time to introduce the potty to your toddler, give it a sunny spin. Make it sound wonderful to be old enough to sit on the potty chair.
- Dealing with accidents – Don’t make a big deal or get angry about accidents. Doing so will hurt their morale and might make them feel that they can’t do the job they’re expected to do.When accidents happen, simply help your toddler to get cleaned up and forget about it. Tell them something encouraging like, “It’s alright. You’ll make it to the potty next time.”
- Every step is great – Praise your child even if he or she just goes and sits on the potty but doesn’t go. This will likely occur early in the process, and is a positive behavior that should be acknowledged.