Toilet Learning in Montessori – Are the Adults Ready?
The Montessori approach refers to the process as “toilet learning” rather than “potty training” or “toilet training.“ This is because a child learns to use a toilet through a natural process similar to walking or crawling, which does not necessitate training.
Although many parents delay toilet learning until their children are toddlers, you can start preparing a child for success in this area as early as birth. You can talk about how your kid is feeling right now during diaper changes by saying things like “you’re wet” or “your diaper is full.” When a child is exposed to this language, they will be better equipped to relieve themselves when the time comes.
Creating an Atmosphere for Toilet Learning
Before your child is ready to start learning to use the toilet, around 13-15 months, you’ll want to prepare a child-sized toileting environment. The beauty of a prepared environment is that you’ll be able to respond quickly to your child’s needs.
You can begin making “stand up” changes in your child’s toileting area once you have a prepared environment. Standing changes allow a child to be more independent by allowing them to participate more in the process, such as pulling down their pants. In the kitchen, you can set up a Montessori bar or make your kid hold onto the tub while you change them. Invite your child to sit on the toilet after each diaper change so that they become accustomed to the routine.
Our Changing Area in Nursery Class (a part of the child’s toilet learning process is helping himself wear his nappies)
Keep an Eye on the Child
Because every child is different, there is no right age for learning to use the toilet. However, there are physical and psychological indicators of readiness to look out for.
Signs that Your Child is Ready to Learn in Using the Toilet
- Sphincter muscles have developed in a child who is a confident walker, indicating that they have enough muscle control to learn to use the toilet.
- A child with a dry diaper may be able to go for longer periods of time, indicating that they are in control.
Toilet Learning Readiness Psychological Signs
- When a child realizes the diaper is a foreign object, he or she will try to rip it off.
- During a bowel movement, your child may seek privacy by hiding behind a door or under a table.
- A child may be curious about what other members of the family are doing in the bathroom.
- A child may inform you that they have urinated or had a bowel movement.