Potty Training
Written by: Dcortes
Now some of you may say that it’s not good or healthy to resort to bribery with children, because it teaches them to always expect a reward for good behavior (and that may be true). But as a young, single mom, I was open to doing anything that would result in a positive end. So, needless to say, I bribed my oldest son, Joshua when it came time to potty training. Joshua was about 1 ½ years old, and when I sat him on the potty he would sit endlessly (it felt like all day and all night!) and do nothing. He would play, read a book, sing songs, but he would not pee! Or he would look at me with sad, puppy dog eyes saying,” Please release me mommy, let me go”. Well, more times than not, he did absolutely nothing in the potty no matter how much he had to drink beforehand. I would sit him on the potty after a meal and before bedtime. Most of the time he won the battle of the dreaded potty game and I would release him.
So, one day I decided to “bribe” him. He had a sweet tooth, like most little boys, and I sat a hand full of candy above him, on the dresser. I told him that if he would just pee or poop, he can have the candy. Well, Josh sat there for a while looking at me thinking I was playing a game with him, then he started to cry when he realized it was not a game, reaching up for the candy. I tried to be firm with him and insisted that he needs to pee before being rewarded. Well, he did not pee, no matter how firm I was and neither did he get the candy!
It took a while after that experience to potty train him, but eventually Josh was potty trained and he was rewarded! He was rewarded with words of affirmation and hugs and kisses!
Depending on the child, potty training can be easy or a challenge. Standing firm and letting your child know that you mean business is a must. Nothing is wrong with rewarding your child for good behavior, but we must know when to do so and when not to.
D Cortes
Proverbs 22: 6 Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents], Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Leave a reply
Leave a reply