Like every other Mother out there with a toddler, I am working on a new rite of passage… potty training. Ugh. First of all, I think I started too early. My best friend’s daughter who may be the same numeric age as my little one, however is actually this amazing super talented and smart 4 Year Old in a Two Year Old’s body, was the reason I started so early. I tried a few tactics here and there and my newest one is a reward chart. Since I thought I’d share my story, I might as well turn it into a blog post on how to make your own potty training chart!
What is strange is that we went on vacation for two weeks and she was practically potty trained. She woke up with a dry diaper almost every night and sat on the “big girl” toilet seat almost every time. We get home from this successful vaca and nada. We were back to square one. So, I digress, to a potty training chart. Here is what you need:
- Two pieces of 12X12 scrapbook paper
- Paper cutter
- Cutting mat
- Straight edge
- Computer (or feel free to handwrite)
- Exact-o Knife
- Double sided tape
- This blue chart or pink chart printable
Step One: The printable is 7.5” X 10.25”. Using an exact-o knife and straight edge, cut out the 7.5” X 10.25” window in your desired area. I positioned mine in the center bottom to leave room for a title.
Step Two: Create your title. I printed it on a computer and cut it out, but you can simply write your title or use stencils, whatever you prefer.
Step Three: Using double sided tape, attach your top piece to a second piece of scrap book paper. Leave the right and left side of the window unattached so that you can slide and change out your printable when necessary.
Step Four: Print and slide in your printable. By the way, I got the image of the star on Google Images because Mia loves stars!
Step Five: Hang in at eye level, near your child’s potty.
I use fun and unique stickers to cover each space as my daughter hits the achievement. So far it’s kind of sort of working maybe? Ha! We’ll see! Do you have any potty training advice? Here is some advice from Facebook (some funny, some serious):
“Glue” – T.N.
“Be patient. It’s doesn’t happen overnight.” – T.W.
“Aim for the center.” – P.S.
“I was going to say bribery.” – J.H.B.
“It usually will happen when she is ready. Make her as familiar as possible and try all you can think of and when she wants to and is ready she will just do it.” – K.T.Y.
“Buy a potty chair and have her sit on it when she watches TV and then make a big deal out of it when she goes.” – J.W.
“Just show her the process, ask her if she wants to potty in the toilet when you go and once you think she gets the concept just ask her every morning if she wants to wear a diaper or not…. when she is ready she’ll say no. I don’t recommend kid potties, totally unnecessary, more work, more things to clean and when there isn’t one available, they have a harder time going in a regular toilet.” D.R.
How about you? Any tips or tricks?
My daughter has special needs which makes it even more challenging but charting and rewarding worked for us too. We tried when she was also 2 years old but it wasn’t successful. I read to her a book with great illustrations of the step by step process everyday, until one day, I decided to give it another try. She was already 4 years old. And it was a breeze. She did it without assistance. She goes to her potty on her own. Although, she can’t express in words that she needed to go, that’s already fine with us. So when we go out, she’s still in her nappy. I might try charting again and try going out without a nappy. I’m loving your site. Thanks a lot for sharing this cute stuff. My daughter will love this.
Hi Elysse! Thank you so much. I just spent some time reading your site and your journey with your daughter and the loss of your Mom. I am so sorry. Your daughter is so cute. I encourage you to keep writing!! Thanks as always for stopping by and commenting!
This is so cute…printing for sure 🙂 Thanks!
Thanks, Ally!