[LiteraryLark]

I have a strange maybe dumb question. I am not a parents so I don't know these things but...why do we potty train kids? Don't they just grow up and learn to go to the toilet on their own? Is it physically or psychologically damaging not to potty train kids or...?

Again, strange question, but I'd like some clarity.

[unaluna]

Its a good question. There was a dr phil show where the kids would poop their drawers, and they were getting to be like teenagers. Its like a refusal to grow up? Failure to launch. Or on the Nanny 911 show i think, a kid called for his mom to come wipe him, and the nanny was like oh no this is gonna stop. Basically who wants to change diapers? Plus theyre expensive. But mostly its your first step towards self reliance.

You place a litter tray in the corner and lay some litter sand into it, then... oh you mean "kids", never mind then.

i've never thought about it, but i suppose you're right.. why train the children to go to the toilet

it's like the cycle of life- children learn things by themselves as they get older- talking, walking, kissing, what ever

could it be that it's more complicated?. and more movement is required?

the age of completing potty training I have noticed is a lot older. Mine were at 18 and 20 months but I have friends who's children are 3 and 4 and still not potty trained.

I blame the advances in diaper technology. Frankly, diapers are so good at keeping bumbs dry the tots don't know what it's like to be uncomfortable. Hence they have no urge to bother with potty training.

I raised my kids with cloth diapers. I bet they hated being wet and that encouraged them to control themselves at such a young age, Personally, I think it disgusting that a 3, 4, or even 5 year old still wear a diaper/pull-up. Look, if your child is old enough to tell you they are wet or have dirtied themself they are old enough to have learned not to.

[*Laurie*]

My sister had four children and didn't believe in aggressive potty training. This was back in the '70's. Her kids were in diapers until they were about three years of age. She and her husband encouraged them to use the toilet, but didn't pressure them, and eventually they wanted to be more "grown up", so used the toilet.

My husband and I didn't believe in pressuring our kids, either, but I did actively potty train them. A time came when I was tired of dealing with diapers. My kids were around 18 months when fully toilet trained.

One reason to potty train a child is because they go to playgroups and preschool. There's an element of peer pressure to the whole thing...little kiddos see other people (parents, sibs, other little kids) use the toilet, so they want to do the same thing.

I know of some children who are in preschool right now and still wear diapers.
While, I agree that children shouldn't be pressured to use the toilet, I do think that getting them used to the idea of toilets early on is a good way to train them. Like the elimination communication seems t be a pretty healthy way of prepping children to want to use the toilet.

I work with kids and it's not good to introduce potty training before the child shows signs of being ready. But sometimes if potty training is introduced too late it can cause a lot of stress and embarrassment I think to a child when they are in kindergarten and all of their friends use to toilet and they still wear diapers.

Exactly LauraBeth and KoriAnders. There is a strong difference between pushing and encouraging.

To teach my son to aim I threw cheerios into the toilet and told him to 'fire away'.

[eskielover]

Parents should teach through communication & encouragement. Peer pressure works but that could be mean if a kid isn't taught by their parents & goes to school smelling like poop.....that peer pressure wouldn't be as kind as what parents training should be.

Back when my daughter went to pre school in thr early 1980's it was required that they be potty trained. Preschool teachers weren't paid to change diapers.

There are lots of things that good parents should have open discussions with their kids about & not just let them learn off the street. Maybe that's why so many kids struggle with so many issues?

I have actually heard of cats who have been trained to use the toilet...great idea...saves on the cost of kitty litter also.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by eskielover

Parents should teach through communication & encouragement. Peer pressure works but that could be mean if a kid isn't taught by their parents & goes to school smelling like poop.....that peer pressure wouldn't be as kind as what parents training should be.

Back when my daughter went to pre school in thr early 1980's it was required that they be potty trained. Preschool teachers weren't paid to change diapers.

There are lots of things that good parents should have open discussions with their kids about & not just let them learn off the street. Maybe that's why so many kids struggle with so many issues?

I have actually heard of cats who have been trained to use the toilet...great idea...saves on the cost of kitty litter also.

I wasn't saying that peer pressure is a good way to toilet train a child, I was saying that little ones are naturally influenced by seeing others use the toilet. Seeing others use the toilet naturally makes small children curious about it, and usually helps them along on the "I want to do that, too" path.

LOL, I'm not sure how many toddlers are learning about toilet use off the street.....

[eskielover]

Lol.....but they do learn quicker from older siblings