Skip to main content

Why great kids’ books make potty-training much easier on parents

Are you ready to stop changing diapers? Do you feel determined to potty-train your child once and for all? Great! But is your child ready? Maybe not — and until they are, you can’t really force potty-training on them. The good news is that there are methods to help ease your toddler into the idea of using the potty. Books are the ideal way to introduce your little one to the topic of potty-training or to give kids who are almost there a gentle nudge in the right direction.

Get more than one book

Books are an incredible way to introduce young children to new concepts. They help them understand what is going on and answer many of the questions that kids may have. You’ve used books to teach your child about colors, letters, animals, and things around their home. Why not use them to get your toddler excited about potty-training?

man reading to baby
nappy/Pexels

We recommend using more than one book, and this is for a couple of reasons. First, kids connect better with some books or characters. You’ll notice that your child will be inclined to read one book more than others. Offering them a few book options is important so they don’t feel like you’re pushing the idea on them.

Second, variety always helps. You don’t want your child to get bored of reading the same book over and over again — especially when it comes to a topic that could be sensitive. With a variety of books, you can provide kids with different storylines and scenarios that keep them entertained and show how most kids go through potty-training.

Teach kids that accidents happen

One of the reasons your child may be reluctant to start potty-training is insecurity. Many children feel pressured to “perform” and don’t quite understand that accidents happen. Though this may seem obvious to you, the reality is that young children want to please their parents at all times. At this age, you’re still their hero, and your little one hates the idea of disappointing you.

Find a potty-training book that shows kids that accidents happen, and that this is OK. After reading it, talk to your child about the story. Let them know that no one is able to acquire a new skill right away and that accidents occur along the way. Tell them that you will celebrate their efforts and that accidents are perfectly all right.

Encourage them to keep trying

Once your child knows that you expect accidents to happen, be sure to encourage them to keep trying. You’ll find that most potty-training books tell stories of characters who try several times and have numerous accidents, but they don’t give up. Remind your toddler that all they need is practice, and as long as they keep trying, success will come before they know it.

boy and mother
Pixabay/Pexels

Besides teaching your toddler how to use the bathroom, this is a valuable life lesson that your child will always remember. It’s never too early to start teaching your child about perseverance, and potty-training is an excellent opportunity to introduce the concept.

Let them know that we all poop and pee

Use literature as an opportunity to remind your children that we all poop and pee. It’s normal for adults, kids, and even pets! If you’re comfortable with it, let your child see you use the toilet. Some parents find it awkward, while others are perfectly comfortable with this idea. Either way, our recommendation is that you find a book that discusses this and opens up the conversation naturally.

Why not read while you poop?

Teaching your child how to use the potty is all about balance. You don’t want to push so hard (pun intended!) that your child feels pressured and rejects the potty.

A good way to avoid making this a stressful situation is by offering your child other books to read while they sit in the toilet. Choose books that are unrelated to the topic and will help your toddler relax while they continue to try.

It’s a good idea to have a selection ready to go and keep it handy for the next time your little one needs to run to the bathroom. Even if they don’t make it in time, experts recommend sitting on the potty after the fact to get the body used to the feeling of using the toilet. If your child has a book to keep them entertained during that time, the training process will be much easier and relaxing for them.

Bribes do work, sometimes

You may find that many potty-training books talk about rewards for children once they successfully go to the bathroom. The reason they do this is simple: Because it works! If you choose to implement this method, it’s a good idea to find a book that talks about prizes. Use this opportunity to discuss possible rewards with your little one and figure out what would motivate them to use the potty.

parents and child
Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels

For parents who prefer to avoid the reward method, there are many books who leave this idea out altogether and that still work wonders in terms of encouragement. Just be sure to read reviews before purchasing your books, to avoid confusing your child.

Teaching your child how to use the potty is a confidence-boosting milestone for many toddlers. The key is to avoid unnecessary pressure or stressors. Books are the ideal way to introduce the concept to little ones and an excellent encouragement for those toddlers who have already begun the process. You will soon see that with guidance and support, your child will be excited and proud to learn how to use the bathroom like a “big kid.”

Editors' Recommendations

NewFolks
Kid-friendly YouTubers your child will be safe watching
YouTube accounts your kids will love
two kids playing on phones

Kids love to watch videos on YouTube, and since most are watching on handheld devices and not large televisions, it can sometimes be hard for parents to always monitor what they're watching.  And whether you try to limit screen time or not, chances are your kids are watching something without your knowledge.

Most parents have taken steps to introduce children to internet safety, with some installing parental controls while others try to make sure they always know what sites their kids are visiting. YouTube has become hugely popular amongst kids with a seemingly endless variety of new creators who are posting content kids love. It can be overwhelming for parents to try to keep up and make sure their kids are only following kid-friendly YouTubers who aren’t teaching them the wrong things.

Read more
Need a Halloween craft for 10-year-olds? Here are spookingly great ideas
The best Halloween activities for a hauntingly good time
A group of kids ready for Halloween.

The Halloween season comes with the most creative crafts for your pumpkins to do. Halloween activities for kids are the favorite thing to do in October — aside from trick-or-treating. They are also the most convenient, as you probably already have the materials to do them around your house. When you have older kids, like 10-year-olds, it’s more relaxing to get crafting. You could get into more detailed crafts or do them side by side since they don’t need the supervision younger children would, and these Halloween crafts for 10-year-olds are perfect to have a spooktacular season.

Themed games to play
There is nothing like getting the kids together to play a game. Whether the whole family gets in the fun or the kids play solo, themed games always make things more interesting.
Spooky bingo
What you’ll need

Read more
Why toddlers throw things: What to do to stop them from breaking objects and driving you mad
Learn why toddlers throw things so you can create and maintain a safe environment for everyone
Little girl about to throw a bowl on the kitchen floor.

Kids inherently know just what to do to drive their parents crazy, and none more so than a toddler. One thing these tiny rebels do to make you question living in your own home is throwing anything they get their hands on. When babies are first born, they often can’t even figure out how to let go of an object in their hand, but toddlers don't know their own strength, and these baby Hulks love to watch items go the distance.

Throwing is easily one of the most maddening things toddlers do because it's destructive and dangerous. What’s a parent to do? We'll help you figure out why toddlers throw things and how to get them to stop.

Read more