Books Potty
Potty Training Boys: No Job for Sissies
“Do you have any tips for potty training boys?” I recently saw this question on a forum. It took me back to one of the most frustrating periods of raising the man-child.
Admitting that you are having difficulty in potty training your son is not likely to generate a lot of empathy. Your mother-in-law will tell you that his father, i.e. her son, was potty trained at 18 months. (“It’s just a matter of being firm, dear.”) Far be it from me to accuse your mother-in-law of falsehoods…perhaps her memory is failing. Your friend (I use the term loosely) will gush about , Diaper Free in a Flash, and how it worked overnight on her two year old son. Do not thrash her with your economy size jar of Tidy Wipes. She means well…probably.
A quick Internet search finds lots of books out there to cheer you on. They have titles like, Potty Training Fun! , The Happy Child Potty Book, or my favorite, Potty Train Your Child in 25 Minutes, Guaranteed! Sadly, none of these books can predict whether potty training your son will happen in a day or become a long term project spanning several birthdays.
Boys vs. Girls
One of the cruel realities of life must be faced and this is it: Boys are different from girls. This is a rock solid truth. Whether humans have been on this planet for 10,000 years or ten billion years, differences between boys and girls go back to the beginning. The principal difference is this: Girls hate icky things and want to be clean. Boys have deep emotional ties to dirt.
“Definition of a boy: a noise with dirt on it. ~ Mark Lowry”
Age Matters
Wrap your mind around this before you lose your grip. Reasoning, begging, even bribery will fail if the little guy isn’t physically ready. Some boys may be ready to be trained at age two. A few may be ready earlier. Some may not be ready before the age of four. (Take a deep breath and exhale slowly…)
A Reason to Care
If you are sure your son has the necessary physical control, all he needs is a reason to care. Your job is to find a way to make him care. The perkily titled books suggest fun potty games and a consistent system of rewards. Sounds great, doesn’t it? Yet, here you are reading this article.
When positive reinforcement does not work, and you know your son has the physical control, it comes down to this: you have to use negative consequences.
I know the Experts are gasping (“How dare she? That’s child abuse!”) However, I maintain my opinion. My opinion is based on two things: common sense and experience.
Common sense tells me that I am not doing my son a favor when I allow him to persist in folly. Look down the road five years. If nothing changes, will your son thank you for your tolerance?
Experience tells me that, while learning through positive channels may be the best method, it doesn’t always work. Some people are born masters of passive-aggressive behavior. These people often learn important lessons only when they have experienced pain. (How would I know these things?)
I’m not suggesting humiliation or child abuse. I am saying that a swat on the bottom or thigh will often result in altered behavior. Swatting your son is no fun, but parenting is not for the weak. In the long run, don’t you think your son would rather have a few swats in the privacy of home than to be called “Stinky” all through school?
About the Author
Marilyn Woodard, author, parent of two successful young adults, wife for 35 years, is passionate about anything that has to do with home life. You can read more of her Humble Opinions on her site, http://www.CreatingGreatHomes.com
Potty Animals Book Trailer.wmv
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Glows in the Dark! Pirates of the Bathroom! $7.95 Seat Socks are the new stretch fabric toilet lid covers. One size fits all lids. Washable and Durable, Pirate Seat Socks are amazing! Shiver yer timbers aargh!… |
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Levels of Discovery Her Majesty’s Throne Potty Chair $59.99 Recommended for toddlers up to 50 lbs. Features:Crown backrest with special message: “Her Majesty’s Throne”4″ x 6″ photo frame to make it her own!Removable plastic container lifts out for easy clean-up… |
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Multivet Spray Commander 3 Refill Scentless, 3 Citronella, 5 Batteries $155.85 How it works When your dog is too distracted to obey a command or displays bad behavior, you use the handheld remote control dog training device to trigger the spray collar. A harmless spray is released; it interrupts the dog’s inappropriate actions and makes him receptive to your command. The kit includes : 1. CD & Complete training manual |
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Once Upon a Potty For Her $7.55 Prudence–the round-cheeked, pony-tailed heroine of Alona Frankel’s book of the same name–can provide further inspiration to young daughters with her video adventure. As with her print counterpart, the animated Prudence wonders if her grandmother’s gift could be a birdbath or a flowerpot before she settles down to the business at hand. Unlike the book, Prudence gets a grand introduction in the fo… |
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Potty Power – For Boys & Girls $8.90 POTTY POWER – DVD Movie… |
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Once Upon a Potty for Him DVD $7.96 Admit it: you never thought you’d be buying a video with the word potty in the title. But it’s been months, and while Junior seems to love his potty, he doesn’t actually do anything in it. So you need some inspiration. Well, you’ve found it. This video expands upon the popular children’s book by the same name in two ways: there’s a sing-along potty song and a 13-minute doctor’s statement for paren… |
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Potty Chair Woodworking Plan $10.99 Both practical and decorative, this interpretation of an old-fashioned potty chair will become a family heirloom. The chair is easy to make from standard size boards. Full-size patterns are ready to trace directly to the lumber and parts cut with only hand tools. Assembly is accomplished with glue and wood screws. Children will appreciate the convenient book rack and paper holder, and the plastic … |
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Boon Potty Bench w/ Potty Training Book $63.15 Boon Potty Bench The Boon Potty Bench is a training potty featuring two enclosed side storage spaces for organizing all of your training supplies, and a pull-out drawer for easy sanitary clean-up. Simply close the lid to use as a large, sturdy stool that supports up to 300 lbs. The sleek, modern design includes a built-in toilet paper holder and a removable soft deflector shield. Reco… |
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Sesame Street – Elmo’s Potty Time $7.30 Movie DVD… |
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Once Upon a Potty for Her [VHS] $5.10 Prudence–the round-cheeked, pony-tailed heroine of Alona Frankel’s book of the same name–can provide further inspiration to young daughters with her video adventure. As with her print counterpart, the animated Prudence wonders if her grandmother’s gift could be a birdbath or a flowerpot before she settles down to the business at hand. Unlike the book, Prudence gets a grand introduction in the fo… |
Tags: baby, books, books potty, books potty training, books potty training boys, books potty training girls, children's books potty training, potty, toilet, training
True Story | admin | 
February 25, 2011 12:22 am
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