TEACHING CONCEPTS FOR POTTY TRAINING THROUGH PLAY!

Long before your child may be ready for potty training there are some important concepts that they should learn! These concepts include learning the difference between wet and dry, dirty and clean, front and back.  

Teaching your child to count can be a useful way to measure time for your young child (eg. let's wash our hands until we count to 5).  It is also helpful when encouraging your child to learn to sit down and you can slowly increase the number that you count to (slowly increasing their attention).  When your child is ready to use toilet paper on their own, counting is helpful so they know the number of squares they can use (and to avoid whole rolls of toilet paper in the toilet)!

It is also really  important to teach your child about their own bodies...naming each body part correctly and finding where it is on themselves.  This body schema helps with gross, fine and visual spatial awareness as well as body safety. They can learn about "private parts" that they don't show other people and be aware that others do not touch their private parts (and they don't touch others).  This does not need to be in a fearful way but should be taught naturally and may be built on as your child matures.  There are lots of great books that teach older children about  body safety including "Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept".
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​TEACHING WET AND DRY  through everyday opportunities and play situations. 

1. Washing face in the morning.
2. Having a bath and drying with a towel.
3. Going for a swim and drying with a towel.
4. Watering plants with a watering can.
5. Washing the car.
6. Washing windows with a spray bottle.
7. Washing and drying the dishes.
8. Throwing wet sponges at a target.
9. Going into the rain with an umbrella or raincoat.
10. Jumping in puddles.
11. Painting with water on objects or on paper that changes colour. 
12. Dipping feet into a bucket of water and then walking on a paved/concrete surface leaving footprints.

TEACHING DIRTY AND CLEAN through everyday opportunities and play situations.

1. Washing hands before eating.
2. Washing hands or feet after playing with paint, shaving cream, mud or dirt.
3. Washing dirty dishes.
4. Giving a doll a "bath" in a bucket of water.
5. Helping to wash a pet.
6. Collecting rocks from the garden or park and washing them in a bucket of water.
7. Chalk drawing on the driveway and washing away the drawing with water.
8. Helping to wash the car.
9. Helping to wash dirty toy.

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TEACHING FRONT AND BACK through everyday opportunities and play situations.
Teaching front and back is important when it is time to teach your child to wipe their bottoms independently. 

Use various items you have around your home to teach front and back, such as stuffed toys, books, toy planes and cars, CDs and even tins of food! (see photo)

TEACHING TO COUNT through everyday opportunities and play situations.
​It is best to use physical objects or actions when teaching young children to count.

1. Use household items to count such as cotton wool, pegs, toilet paper, books, cutlery, etc.
2. Count the number of stairs up to the front door.
3. Jump along a rug or yoga mat and count as you go.
4. Count how many steps to climb up to the top of a slippery dip and how long it takes to slide down a slippery dip.
5. Count as you stir the bowl when making muffins together.
6. Count 10 swings before giving someone else a turn.
7. Count as you clap your hands.
8. Count out 3 books to read before bed time.
9. Count how many wooden blocks you can use to build a tower.
10. Count ten sultanas (raisins) before eating them up.
11. Sing songs and finger rhymes that involve counting fingers or actions.  Find someHERE.
12. Roll balls or sausages of play dough and count them.

TEACHING BODY AWARENESS through everyday opportunities and play situations.

1. Having a bath is a natural time to teach naming body parts.
2. "Simon Says put your hands on"....
3. Read books that have clear pictures such as DK's My first body board book.​
4. Wash a toy doll or teddy and name body parts.

This article is part of “Functional Skills for Kids: 12 month series by Paediatric Occupational and Physical Therapists”.  You can read all of the childhood functionsHERE.  Read all Your Kids OT’s monthly posts HERE.

Find more information about “Potty training”, stop by to see what other Occupational and Physical Therapists participating in the “Functional Skills for Kids series” have written: 
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Potty Training Readiness: 10 Signs It’s Time to Ditch the Diapers  | Mama OT
Potty Training, Toileting and Fine Motor Considerations  | The Inspired Treehouse
Gross Motor Skills and Toilet Training | Your Therapy Source
Toileting and Sensory Processing   | Miss Jaime OT
Potty Training with Attention and Behavior Problems | Sugar Aunts
Modifications For Potty Training  | Therapy Fun Zone
Preparing Your Child & Environment for Potty Training | Growing Hands-On Kids
Potty Training Instruction Tips  |Kids Play Space
Teaching Concepts for Potty Training Through Play |Your Kids OT

Cindy is a registered Occupational Therapist practising in Sydney Australia.  She has two young children who are a constant source of inspiration and learning.  Cindy loves working creatively to help children to reach their potential, finding opportunities in everyday living and making learning fun. Cindy is the author of the Occupational Therapy blog Your Kids OT.

The information on this site is general in nature. The activities are safe for most children, however, you should consult an Occupational Therapist or health professional to address specific movement, sensory or other medical conditions.  

This article does not contain affiliate links.

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