Correcting

Undesired

Behavior

with positive results
 

In the developmental process, there are few milestones achieved by children that parents accept with more joy and enthusiasm than that of becoming toilet trained.

In The Power of Positive Parenting, chapter eighteen, "Toilet Training", outlines and guides you through five strategies that will solve nearly any bladder control problem. If additional helps are needed with your child, I urge you to purchase the book written by Azrin and Foxx, Toilet Training in Less than a Day. Also, there are two documents available at a nominal cost from the Division of Outreach and Development, Center for Persons with Disabilities, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-6845. The one document is entitled Toilet Training: Short Term and the other is entitled Toilet Training: Long Term.

1. Be certain there are no medical problems complicating a child's bladder or bowel control.

2. Begin initial bladder control using the basic behavioral strategies of extinction and selective reinforcement of appropriate behaviors.

3. Teach enuretic children "strain and hold" procedures.

4. For more difficult causes, employ the "dry bed training" using a urine alarm device.

5. Particularly for older children, teach urine retention and sphincter control exercises.

The use of these books should not be expected to replace contact with a clinician, as research has shown that parents are better able to manage this program if they are receiving professional supervision.

Product References

Find more detailed examples, role-playing, experiences, and explanations in audio, visual, and printed media on our Products page..

The Power of Positive Parenting (book); pp 249-263