Re: Potty Training

October 3, 2003

Potty Training

I think the hardest thing with is her not comprehending all that is said to her. If I told her "Go pee-pee and you can have woody" she wouldn't understand that. (We did that with my typical son -- no train store until you go on the potty, worked like a charm and never had an accident!) The undies and no diaper thing is hard, cuz I don't want her peeing on the carpet. Perhaps I will try the undies under the pull up though! Her body is ready for the toilet, but I don't think she understands enough to verbally explain it to her.Another thing I am worried about is once I have her going on the toilet at home is what to do when we are out . . . she has hearing sensivities and HATES public bathrooms. Another reason I was thinking about shelving the idea for a bit.Thanks for all your help!TanjaSupport Everyday Miracles by shopping online at IGIVE.COM, where a portion of every purchase is donated to this support network. Proceeds received will be used for a variety of functions, such as educational activities, therapy, famiy outings, etc. http://www.igive.com/EDM

October 3, 2003

would probably not have understood it either if I or He were not familiar with reinforcing all the positives. (before ABA) I tried the scheduling and he still refused, I tried the "if you go, you can have this or that" and I put it on hold. I truly think it was the forbidden trains, that he LOVES so much that helped him to succed. Never once in his life did he pee on the potty,I thought he would never be trained. He had no interest, did not care if his diaper was wet or dirty and his NT twin brother had already been trained well over a year before . I also strated giving the trains to his brother and sister after they went potty, so he could see that they got to play with , , percy, etc....and he thought that was cool. Hopefully others will have more ideas to help you!

Lynda

October 3, 2003

sorry about any double or blank posts, time for bed........

October 4, 2003

Maureen, that is such a sweet story!! Thanks for sharing your potty training-Disney success!!

Potty Training

I didnt go into the reward thing much in my previous post - I meant to but got carried away. That is actually a very big part of the Judy Coucouvanis method. Have a reward that is reserved ONLY for when they agree to do something toward progress on the potty training. This makes the reward more powerful. If there is something your child absolutely loves that would be your powerful reward and only let them have it after they have participated in the potty training activity you have set up. I still do this with my son. NOw that he is trained he still sometimes waits too long to go because he gets engaged in something he likes to do and doesnt want to take a break to go potty.

When we come in from the daycare in the evening I say, ok no computer or no trains or tv until we hang up our coat and bookbag and go to the potty. After he goes to the potty and washes hands he can do one of his favorite activities for awhile and I can make dinner for awhile without having to stop to be sure he has used the bathroom. I also have to be sure to make him go right before bed or he will have an accident in bed. I am lucky that he doesnt frequently wet the bed........He has only wet the bed if I did not make sure he went to the bathroom before he got in bed.

You really have to stick to your guns on the reward thing........and it is hard because they protest and cry and carry on so much. It is the one time where my son did go through some hysterics and I hated it and felt so awful, but stick with it as best you can. It should pay off.

Judy stressed that you should not say, "If you go in the potty I'll take you to Toys R Us and you can get that toy you have been wanting to have."

She says that you should tell the child you have already purchased that toy they really want and show them that you have it in your posession, but it does not come out of the package and you cannot play with it until you cooperate with whatever your potty routine is at the time. Getting them started is the only way you can take it to the next level. Then keep that toy or activity strictly for playing with right after they have cooperated with your potty protocol - dont let it become something that is available all the time because it will lose its power to motivate your child. You may have to change what the reward is at some point in the future if something becomes old hat or boring to the child, but you can minimize this by sticking to it.

If you arent sure what that powerful reward is for your child, try asking them if they are verbal or can communicate that to you in some way. If you still arent sure ask teachers or anyone else what kinds of toys or activities seem to turn your child on. Sometimes it could be something that they are exposed to outside of your house that you arent aware of yet. See what other kids your childs age are really crazy about.

When I asked my son what he wanted for his reward he blurted out, "I want to go to Disneyland"

I was stunned. I thought he was going to ask for an industrial size jug of bubbles or a few matchbox cars, perhaps a kiddie computer cd. I secretly started saving (took the money in our household central air conditioning savings fund and redirected it toward a Disney vacation). I informed my family and friends that if they wanted to help us with the motivator reward they could contribute Disney dollars in small increments for birthdays and holiday events instead of toys or candy. I did this over a period of almost a year, and topped off our fund with some of our income tax return. I never told Kenny until about 8 weeks before we were supposed to go and that finally sent him over the edge of working harder. He got closer and closer but still never volunteered to poop on the potty until 9 pm on the evening we were coming home from Disneyworld in Florida. We were 30,000 feet up in the air whenand he told me he had to go poop on the potty right now. The first time was on the Airplane of all places. There was a woman next to me on the plane that I had struck up a conversation with and I had confided to her about my sons disability and that he is just so close to being potty trained, but wont poop on the potty. So when he said he WANTED to go she was aware what a breakthrough moment this was to be. We ran down the aisle to the airplane restroom and he went. It was hard to jump up and down in a space about the size of a gym locker, but we did. He loved that blue stuff in the airplane toilet when you flush (We got some for our toilet at home after that). While we were in the airplane restroom the woman I had been talking to arranged for everyone on the plane to cheer for Kenny when he came out. It was amazing. Everyone gave Kenny high fives all the way back to our seat. The flight attendants got him a special treat and one of those airplane wing pins. Kenny was on clound nine and I wept as I thanked God for the generosity of strangers. We never got central air this year, but God blessed us with pretty moderate temperatures for the most part. There were only about 2 weeks in the whole summer where it was really hot......we are saving up for central air again.

You do not have to promise your child a trip to Disney ( I certainly didnt until I planned it over a lengthy period of time, got help from family and finally knew I could pull it off), but there are lots of things you can do if you are creative. A day trip or an afternoon to some place special can be just as effective........and that is about all we will be able to afford for now too.

Oh one more tip, especially if you have a boy. I have only used this twice in an emergency, but a few times we have been out someplace where we cant get to a potty fast enough. I keep a few zip lock baggies in my purse and if he has to go, we go in the back seat of our car or someplace where we can be discreet and I let him pee in the baggie, seal it up and then seal it in another baggie for good measure until I can properly dispose of it. As I said, it was just an emergency measure and I would not make a habit of it, but I could see him just pulling down his pants and going anywhere if he had to go bad enough.

Maureen Support Everyday Miracles by shopping online at IGIVE.COM, where a portion of every purchase is donated to this support network. Proceeds received will be used for a variety of functions, such as educational activities, therapy, famiy outings, etc. http://www.igive.com/EDM

October 4, 2003

everybody had such good response to potty training lets try a new little delema out. cameron is 3 years old and he has just started biting i know sometimes it is sensory and other times it is caused by loud noises and he cant handle it. i know he cant help what he is doing but it has to stop. the other day he was at school and the teacher called me and said that she had to go to the cllinic and that he bit her so hard that she started to bleed, she was fine and said that they would monitor it and gave him some teething toys. today we were in the mall and cameron ran up to me and out of nowhere he bit me so hard that i had to pry him off me he was like a wild animal with rabies. my arm was all bruised and raised where he bit me. i made him look me in the face and i said in my most serious voice that he cannot bite and i told him that it hurts, i know he doesnt understand me i can tell by the look on his face. it upsets me because i have a baby at home and i am scared for him and i am worried that if he keeps biting at school they will tell me that he cannot come. please guys give me any advice you can. i am feeling helpless right now. any ideas will help

jessica

October 5, 2003

gee, biting. that has resurfaced in my home, too. my 2 y.o. bit alyssa yesterday, leaving a mark. I'm sure alyssa did something to piss her off, but i wasn't around to see the whole episode--just overhear something about hairpulling (also done by the 2y.o.). the little one hasn'e bitten in 8 mos....

So, since we're an ABA home, we'll go back to our behavioral plan: When we catch her in the act, she gets a "no, that's not it" and a time out for the count of 20. I'll let you know how it works.

lauren

February 3, 2004

We are potty training our 3 year old who is non verbal and also

nonambulatory. He can sit well, but he has fallen off the little

potty seat so we have to stay with him. He took to it immediately and

quickly changed to only poop in the potty - no more messy diapers!

Urine is another matter - sometimes we get him and sometimes we

don't. He can't talk though he does squeal (but we can't figure out

that means potty cause it sounds like any other of his squeals). So

we just try to take him every so often - definitely first thing in

the morning, after naps, after he's eaten...basically about every

hour or so. I think his potty schedule at school is about every hour

also. I figure this is a start and I'm not going to complain.

Eventually he'll be able to hold it longer and maybe even signal to

us somehow that he wants to go potty. I think part of it might be

pure stubbornness (he won't poop at school at all, which has led to

some constipation problems).

I know they have special potties at school that have straps and stuff

to keep the children in. If your daughter has problems sitting she

may need this. Also, ask her teacher about how they would do it at

school - they should help and encourage her there as well as home.

I think our first time with Liam was after a nap cause we knew he was

dry. That might be a good first time for your daughter, also. Then

just keep at it - make it a routine and I'm sure she'll catch on.

Good luck,

Mama to Seamas, 9 and

Liam, 3 - myoclonic seizures, global dev. delay, possible FTT,

possible Mito - no dx.

> alright, i need some ideas...........

>

> my 4 year old daughter, anna grace, has leighs. she in

> nonambulatory, and can not " sit " unassisted. (she sits in " w "

> position to play on her own and at preschool, but this won't help

> with potty training) She is also nonverbal.

>

> anyway, although she is limited physically, she is very aware of

> everything. how do i begin potty training? since she is

nonverbal,

> she can not tell me when she has to go. should i just start

having

> her sit on the toilet every hour???? do any of you have children

> who do no walk, sit, or talk, but are potty trained? i have no

idea

> where to begin................any suggestions would be appreciated!

>

> bethany

> mom to brennan 7, palmer & anna grace (leighs) 4

February 3, 2004