Dreading the potty training stage?
You don’t have to.
Children express 4 different tendencies when it comes to potty training—regardless of age or gender. There are 4 Types of children, and each one naturally expresses who they are with a specific movement. They do this in all areas of their lives—even potty training!
Have you ever wondered why some children drag out the diaper stage forever and others potty train themselves in a day? It has more to do with their natural tendencies than rules or musical potty seats!
When you identify which Type of child you’re raising, potty training can actually be easy for both of you!
This cheat sheet gives you tips on how to potty train the 4 Types of children:
The Fun-loving Type 1 Child: Make Potty Training Fun
These children are naturally more lighthearted and playful.
- Make potty training into a game. The more fun the experience, the more they’ll try.
- Don’t make it a serious, unhappy experience, or they will pull away.
- Show some exuberance. Clap your hands! Be delighted with them when they succeed!
Fun-loving children express a random movement, so they tend to be potty trained one day and not the next. If you just recognize that this is their movement, you’ll get less frustrated and they’ll be potty trained faster.
The Sensitive Type 2 Child: Make Potty Training Comfortable
These children are more methodical and gentle. They respond best to a comfortable experience.
- Make a plan with them and get all the supplies you need ahead of time.
- Don’t make these kids climb up on the toilet unless they want to – get a child-size potty seat.
- Offer praise that’s more private.
Sensitive children will resist the potty training experience unless they feel like they had a voice in making a plan. Don’t spring potty training on them without talking about it first.
The Determined Type 3 Child: Make Potty Training About Results
These children are less detail-oriented and are all about results. Encourage that!
- Communicate directly about what you expect and what they need to do.
- “You did it,” is a good way to phrase your praise for these children.
- Let them experience potty training as a task that gets a result (like a sticker or a checkmark).
Because they move swiftly through things, Determined children may move swiftly through potty training (or they might move so swiftly through everything else that they forget to go until it’s too late).
The More Serious Type 4 Child: Make Potty Training Respectful
These children are naturally tidier and more efficient. Lucky you!
- Let them be their own authority and choose between the toilet and a potty seat.
- Explain the process and expectations in matter-of-fact terms.
- Keep the experience private—no potty training talk with friends or at the dinner table!
More Serious children look to adults for models of what they should do, so if you point out that everyone who’s grown up is using the toilet, your child will naturally want to imitate that behavior.
Follow these potty training tips for all Types of children:
- All 4 Types of children will respond to clear communication.
- Let them know that you’re excited to help them grow up and use the potty.
- Let them feel support from you, rather than pressure.
Ready to enjoy your children, every single day?
My book, The Child Whisperer gives you the tools, information, and knowledge you need to empower you and your children so your whole family is happier and experiences more cooperation.
