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Potty Training
By Rachel Evans
According to Freudian psychology, potty training is an extremely
important stage of child development. While not everything Freud wrote about is accepted
as truth, this stage of development is widely understood as an important milestone
in personal growth.
The difficulty with potty training with an autistic child can be a singular challenge.
If an autistic child is ever to gain a semblance of independence, it is necessary
that potty training be carried out correctly.
Get More Information on Natural Remedies for Autism and other PDDs
There are techniques for potty training a normally developing child. These practices
are fairly universal, but for the most part, they do not apply to the autistic child.
Toilet training an autistic child requires some adjustment to basic strategies.
When
potty training a normally developing child it is common for parents to use prizes
and rewards to reinforce the behavior being taught. However, when it comes to autistic
children, they do not usually react in the same way to positive reinforcement.
Sometimes
they may acknowledge it and other times it can be totally ignored.
Autism is a disorder
in which social interactions are impaired. Some autistic children may even avoid
close relationships with their own parents, preferring to be alone or detached. This
must be taken into consideration when drawing up a plan for potty training.
Furthermore,
autistic children may not have an understanding of why it is important to relieve
themselves in the toilet. This breakdown in communication is extremely important
to address. Many autistic children do not speak. This creates another problem in
terms of potty training.
However, one of the most difficult challenges seems to be
breaking autistic children out of rigidly adhered to routines. Many autistic children
become attached to routines and find them difficult to break out of.
An autistic child switching from diapers to underwear might sense this as a threatening
change. The noise of the toilet flushing could also bother them.
If you’ve looked
into methods of how autistic children learn then you are aware that most are extreme
visual learners. Instead of using words to communicate the importance of toilet training
to autistic toddlers, it is best to utilize visuals.
The rate of success in toilet training using visual cues over verbal ones in toddlers
with autism has been well documented. In fact, there is an entire industry of products
related to helping teach autistic toddlers how to be properly potty trained.
In terms
of the visuals that can be employed, the most common type is a series of pictures,
similar to a comic book that relates the behavior that is going to be taught.
These cards demonstrate the entire process of using the toilet and include information
on what happens after the toilet process is finished. If you’re comfortable with
the idea, let your child see you use the toilet. This visual cue will reinforce what
you are telling them.
One of the other difficulties of potty training an autistic
child is the fact that many of them do not sense the need to use the bathroom and
are prone to having accidents.
One of the ways this can be addressed in through the use of a timer. Timing out when
the child should go to the bathroom can turn the urge to go into a routine.
As mentioned
earlier, autistic children are often fiercely opposed to change. When beginning potty
training do not expect to succeed all at once. The process should be taken slow and
steady, completely at the pace of your child.
Although autism is a disorder that
impairs the ability to communicate in a social manner it is possible for many autistic
children to learn how to function independently.
Potty training is one of the most important steps that will influence the life of
an autistic child. If you want further information on potty training autistic children,
there are plenty of resources and experts that can lead you in the right direction.
For some tips to get you started with potty training have a look at this link:
Potty
Training Tips
About the Author:
Rachel Evans. For more information on potty training
and to signup for a Free Newsletter about Autism please visit The Essential Guide
to Autism