• Published by Kunthi Kumalasari Hardi, M.Ed., BCBA from BehaviorPALS Center 

Toilet training is one of the developmental phases that children need to master. Toilet training is an attempt to teach children to control urination and defecation independently, so that later they can go to the toilet independently. Parents usually have their own anxiety when they start teaching toilet training. One of the questions parents ask is what are the signs that my child is ready for toilet training.

There are several signs that parents need to know and check before doing toilet training for their children. In terms of development, most children start doing toilet training at the age of 2 years and 6 months. In terms of development, parents need to check whether in general the child can hold pee for 60-90 minutes. This can be done by checking since the last diaper change whether the child's diaper has been wet again before 60 minutes. 

The second thing that parents need to check is whether their child has little or no problem behavior when going to the toilet. For example, if you are asked to wash your hands, go to the toilet, and take a bath, your child does not have a refusal, such as a tantrum because he is asked to go to the toilet. When children do toilet training, most children will be asked to sit on the toilet for approximately 15 minutes, so if the child still has behavioral problems related to the toilet it will be more difficult to ask him to be on the toilet for more than 15 minutes. When children show non-compliance with instructions to go to the toilet, parents are advised to solve these problems one by one, so as not to add stress to both parents and children.

The next thing that parents need to observe is the awareness of their child regarding the discharge of urine or bowel movements. For example, check whether children are looking to or looking for their parents when they start to pee or after they finish urinating. Or, the child can also point to his diaper when he has peed. 

Another behavior that needs to be taught is finding the location of the toilet. This is important because our target is for children to be able to go to the toilet independently, not having to be invited or carried to the toilet by their caregivers. If the child is able to speak verbally or gesturally, teach the child to ask to go to the toilet. For example, when you find out that your child needs to go to the toilet, you say "pee", then ask you to repeat "pee" and then you take your child to the toilet. 

If your child has special needs such as autism, you are still advised to start toilet training at the recommended age of 2 years and 6 months. Apart from doing the things suggested above, most children with autism have self-stimulation behavior. This self-stimulation behavior needs to be managed so that it doesn't interfere with the child's attention during the toilet training program. If the child performs self-stimulating behavior continuously, he will find it difficult to feel the sensation when he wants to urinate or defecate.

Toilet training behavior is an important behavior for children to master. Until the child is independent to go to the toilet, it will take time and consistency of the caregiver. Don't rush to teach potty behavior to the point of making your child uncomfortable or upset. Try to break down the target, for example by only targeting 1-2 targets that the child needs to do independently. For example, you might only target your child to take off their pants and sit on the toilet for 15 minutes, while other behaviors such as washing their hands and putting on their pants will be done by parents. Don't forget to celebrate success and independence, or even cooperative behavior from your child.

Bibliography:

Leaf, R. & McEachin, J. (1999). A work in progress. New York: Different Roads to Learning

Written by:

Kunthi Kumalasari Hardi, M.Ed., BCBA. from @behaviorpals center

toilet training, child, autism

Pre-school 2 Years - 4 Years / 2 Tahun - 4 Tahun (Balita) / Psychological Development / Tumbuh Kembang Psikologis / Education / Pendidikan / Does my child ready to be toilet trained?

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