It’s one of those lighthearted list-type articles that make for fun reading:
NPR’s recent “Global Parenting Habits That Haven’t Caught On In the U.S.” shows just how much culture impacts childrearing. I can only imagine that most American parents’ jaws will drop at the second item on the list – a claim that Vietnamese parents potty-train their babies by 9 months.
9 months?
Pretty hard to believe, yes? Apparently the secret lies in the Pavlov-like trick of whistling when the baby starts going to the bathroom. Pretty soon, the baby associates the sound with the act.
I don’t know if that method would work here in the States, given our hectic, on-the-go lifestyle. But the article certainly serves as a reminder of the frustrations of those potty-training days. At their worst, it can seem like your toddler will never learn the art of using a restroom.
Practical potty-training help
Rest assured, that’s not the case: Eventually healthy children are potty trained. The road to getting there, however, can test the patience of a saint. That’s why today I wanted to round up a few Focus resources for those parents and family members in the throes of convincing a 2-year-old that it’s best to leave the diaper behind.
For starters, we recommend that parents make sure there aren’t any barriers impeding the child from achieving this milestone. Fears, lack of motivation and resistance to change might be holding your son or daughter from embracing the training process. Being mindful of and tackling these challenges on the front end can help streamline the process.
Once you’ve made sure your child is ready to be potty trained, parental encouragement is a key to success. At the same time, parents need to understand that sometimes children simply aren’t ready to tackle this new endeavor. If that’s the case, don’t lose your cool – that might scare your child away from even trying, or even incite a battle of the wills. Instead, put potty training on hold for a while and try again in a few weeks.
If you’re on the other side of potty training a child, please let us know what techniques worked for your family. I’m sure there are many moms and dads who will love to learn a new trick!
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