A New Look at Potty Training – Part 3
by Karen DeBord, Ph. D.
Courtesy NNCC
Special-Needs Children
The same learning methods apply to special-needs children as to other children. More record keeping may be necessary to find pattern (the time between eating and drinking and need to eliminate, for example). If advised by consulting physicians and specialists to toilet learn the child, parents may need a great deal of patience and a longer time frame. Many other skills accompany even simple routines for children with physical or mental impairments.
A clear task analysis of each process that caregivers and parents often take for granted should be completed. This may involve actually writing down each step taken in order to go to the toilet. The tasks might include:
Recognizing when he or she has to go to the bathroom
- Waiting to eliminate
- Entering the bathroom
- Manipulating clothing closures
- Pulling pants down
- Sitting on the toilet
- Eliminating in the toilet
- Using toilet paper correctly
- Pulling pants up
- Flushing the toilet
- Washing hands
- Drying hands
To see if your child is ready for toilet learning, answer the following additional questions.
1. Can the child follow simple directions?
2. Can the child sit in a chair for five minutes?
3. Can the child wait at least 1 1/2 hours between elimination times?