Toilet Tips 8
From Becky: Toilet Training an Older Child!
All the same techniques from this series of blogs apply to older children too. Experiment with modifying your explanations and celebrations in an age appropriate way.
If your child is into science, show them a diagram of the human body and how it works, how our bodies break down food and what happens to it. If they like music, make up a rap about the toilet. Talk to them about what it feels like to know when you have to go and how you can relax and focus so much more once you have been.
Give your child privacy to check out the toilet on their own and spend time getting used to being in the bathroom.
I once worked with a 15 year old boy who did his first pee in the toilet ever while at our Intensive Program here at The Autism Treatment Center of America
Have fun!
All the same techniques from this series of blogs apply to older children too. Experiment with modifying your explanations and celebrations in an age appropriate way.
If your child is into science, show them a diagram of the human body and how it works, how our bodies break down food and what happens to it. If they like music, make up a rap about the toilet. Talk to them about what it feels like to know when you have to go and how you can relax and focus so much more once you have been.
Give your child privacy to check out the toilet on their own and spend time getting used to being in the bathroom.
I once worked with a 15 year old boy who did his first pee in the toilet ever while at our Intensive Program here at The Autism Treatment Center of America
Have fun!
Labels: Self-Help Skills, Son-Rise Program Staff
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posted by Becky Damgaard, Son-Rise Program Teacher at
10:02 AM
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Thursday, March 4, 2010
Toileting - Take 7
From Becky:It's a gradual process
The first step to toilet training your child is to get them used to what you are working on. It's rare that we as people immediately start performing a new skill perfectly, we need warm up time to study and familiarize oursleves with the material before we get it right.
Let's make the first focus be promoting how fun the toilet is, talking about the toilet, celebrating all of our child's interest in toileting and modelling how to use and why to use the toilet to them before we actually ask them to put their pee and poop in it.
Our children like things to be familiar and predictable. By making the toilet a focus without actually inviting them onto it first, our children get to grow accustomed to what we are introducing to them, therefore when it comes to using the toilet, they already know and trust what it's all about.
It can be tempting to "Push" the challenge with our children when we are hungry for them to develop new skills. If you take your time and have fun along the way, both you and your child will be more motivated to keep trying.
The first step to toilet training your child is to get them used to what you are working on. It's rare that we as people immediately start performing a new skill perfectly, we need warm up time to study and familiarize oursleves with the material before we get it right.
Let's make the first focus be promoting how fun the toilet is, talking about the toilet, celebrating all of our child's interest in toileting and modelling how to use and why to use the toilet to them before we actually ask them to put their pee and poop in it.
Our children like things to be familiar and predictable. By making the toilet a focus without actually inviting them onto it first, our children get to grow accustomed to what we are introducing to them, therefore when it comes to using the toilet, they already know and trust what it's all about.
It can be tempting to "Push" the challenge with our children when we are hungry for them to develop new skills. If you take your time and have fun along the way, both you and your child will be more motivated to keep trying.
Labels: Inspiration, Self-Help Skills, Son-Rise Program Staff
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posted by Becky Damgaard, Son-Rise Program Teacher at
2:13 PM
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From Kate Wilde: Sleep take 2
What to do when your child won't stay in their bedroom when it's time for you to leave?
Firstly make sure you start the bedtime routine at the same time in the same order each night, this will help your child to get a sense of what is coming next, thus giving them a sense of control and predictability.
It is important for you to help your child be able to get to sleep on their own verses using you as a sleep tool. Follow the link below to a previous blog I wrote on this particular subject:
ttp://www.autismtreatmentcenter.org/blog/2009/04/sleeping-children_10.php
Thus it is helpful for you to leave your child's room before they actually fall asleep.
If your child comes out of their bedroom do some version of the following.
1. Adopt this thought, "My child has been loved and played with all day, he is well fed and now the only thing it is time for is sleep, he will get many benefits from his sleep, more than me playing another 30 minutes with them" - Your child may try to convince you that they "need" many different things "before" they go to sleep, this is just a ploy to get more time with you.
Their job is to push the boundary - your job is to hold it firm for them.
2. Sweetly take them back to bed, letting them know that it is time for them to stay in their bedroom and sleep. Do this as many times as it takes, do not play with them or try to engage with them, this will only make the process fun and interesting for them, you want them to understand that you mean business - it is time for them to stay alone in their bedroom to sleep.
One Mom who implemented this with her child had to take her back to bed 30 times on the first night, then 22 times the second night, then only 2 the third night and that was it. It is your consistency and follow through when helps our children know that it is time for bed.
Wishing you all a peaceful nights sleep :)
Kate
Labels: Kate, Self-Help Skills, Sleep
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posted by Kate Wilde at
5:02 AM
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Friday, February 26, 2010
From Becky: Potty Training Take 6
Being a Child Facilitator and a Teacher in The Son-Rise Program, there are many skills that I have acquired over the years. One of those skills is.......
Persistence! To work on any skill with our children we need to be persistent and keep trying. If we gave up after the the first attempt of helping our child use the toilet then they would never get the opportunity to really work on their area of challenge. Here are some ways to think when toilet training your child that will help you to be persistent.
1) I beleive that my child will want to use the toilet. Our children might not immediately show signs of wanting to use the toilet, but holding this belief will inspire them to keep trying because you believe in them. If you don't truly get behind the idea that your child has the ability to be successful in this then you won't put much effort into it and therefore your child will follow suite. You are your child's biggest resource and they will take on the beliefs that you have. What we ultimately believe, comes to pass eventually so the belief in itself will help you hugely.
2) I am not attached (needing) them to use the toilet. If there is a "Push" or a "Need" for your child to become toilet trained then your they will pick up on that and resist against it. Be prepared to lovingly persist without your success or happiness being dependant upon whether they pee/poo in the potty or not.
3) Toilet Training is fun! The minute that you stop being excited about helping your child get intersted in the toilet, the minute your child will stop being intersted.
4) "No means no for now, but not forever" When your child pulls away from the toilet or tells you or shows you that they are not interested right now. It doesn't mean that all has failed and they mean no forever, be excited to give them control and then try again later.
5) Just because they haven't done it yet, it doesn't mean that they won't want to do it now or in the future. If we always make our decisions based on past experiences then we will never try new things. If we want our children to stretch themselves and do new things then we actually need to think differently, let's be the pioneers of new things to inspire our children.
Some children will toilet train in two weeks, and some will take two years, but in either circumstance, persistence is key!
Have fun being persistent.
Persistence! To work on any skill with our children we need to be persistent and keep trying. If we gave up after the the first attempt of helping our child use the toilet then they would never get the opportunity to really work on their area of challenge. Here are some ways to think when toilet training your child that will help you to be persistent.
1) I beleive that my child will want to use the toilet. Our children might not immediately show signs of wanting to use the toilet, but holding this belief will inspire them to keep trying because you believe in them. If you don't truly get behind the idea that your child has the ability to be successful in this then you won't put much effort into it and therefore your child will follow suite. You are your child's biggest resource and they will take on the beliefs that you have. What we ultimately believe, comes to pass eventually so the belief in itself will help you hugely.
2) I am not attached (needing) them to use the toilet. If there is a "Push" or a "Need" for your child to become toilet trained then your they will pick up on that and resist against it. Be prepared to lovingly persist without your success or happiness being dependant upon whether they pee/poo in the potty or not.
3) Toilet Training is fun! The minute that you stop being excited about helping your child get intersted in the toilet, the minute your child will stop being intersted.
4) "No means no for now, but not forever" When your child pulls away from the toilet or tells you or shows you that they are not interested right now. It doesn't mean that all has failed and they mean no forever, be excited to give them control and then try again later.
5) Just because they haven't done it yet, it doesn't mean that they won't want to do it now or in the future. If we always make our decisions based on past experiences then we will never try new things. If we want our children to stretch themselves and do new things then we actually need to think differently, let's be the pioneers of new things to inspire our children.
Some children will toilet train in two weeks, and some will take two years, but in either circumstance, persistence is key!
Have fun being persistent.
Labels: Inspiration, Self-Help Skills, Son-Rise Program Staff
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posted by Becky Damgaard, Son-Rise Program Teacher at
6:00 AM
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Monday, February 22, 2010
From Becky: More Toilet Techniques
5) Motivation! At The Autism Treatment Center of America we believe that motivation is the key to all learning.
To the tune of "She'll be coming around the mountain"
He'll be peeing in the potty when he comes
He'll be peeing in the potty when he comes
He'll be peeing in the potty, peeing in the potty
Peeing in the potty when he comes
Using your child's interests to help inspire a new love for the toilet is extremely effective when toilet training your child. If they like to sing, make up a song about the toilet, if they prefer tickles and squeezes, pretend that the toilet is a tickling/squeeze toilet that is activated whenever they sit on it. If your child is a climber, create an obstacle course that leads to the toilet.
Incorporate the toilet into games when they are connected and engaged with you. If you are giving them rides, pretend you are an airplane on it's way to "Potty Land" where you will deliver pee and poop! If your child is into figurines or stuffed animals, make them all go to the toilet in a fun way.
Without motivation there is no learning, take a minute right now to write down your childs top 5 motivations and then brainstorm ways that you can include promoting the potty into these activities.
Have so much fun!
To the tune of "She'll be coming around the mountain"
He'll be peeing in the potty when he comes
He'll be peeing in the potty when he comes
He'll be peeing in the potty, peeing in the potty
Peeing in the potty when he comes
Using your child's interests to help inspire a new love for the toilet is extremely effective when toilet training your child. If they like to sing, make up a song about the toilet, if they prefer tickles and squeezes, pretend that the toilet is a tickling/squeeze toilet that is activated whenever they sit on it. If your child is a climber, create an obstacle course that leads to the toilet.
Incorporate the toilet into games when they are connected and engaged with you. If you are giving them rides, pretend you are an airplane on it's way to "Potty Land" where you will deliver pee and poop! If your child is into figurines or stuffed animals, make them all go to the toilet in a fun way.
Without motivation there is no learning, take a minute right now to write down your childs top 5 motivations and then brainstorm ways that you can include promoting the potty into these activities.
Have so much fun!
Labels: Self-Help Skills
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posted by Becky Damgaard, Son-Rise Program Teacher at
12:16 PM
2 Comments
Sunday, February 21, 2010
From Becky: Toilet Training take 4
Give your child control!
Here at The Autism Treatment Center of America, giving our special children as much control as possible is always on the main menu.
This is because The Son-Rise Program inpires our children to actually want to do things for themselves (like using the toilet in this example).
Giving our children control make us both attractive to be with and gives our children an opportunity to choose to develop self help skills such as toilet training. That means that whenever your child says "No", pulls away or indicates that they are not interested in the toilet then we will honor that and give them an immediate respect to their comunication.
Every time we honor our child's telling us or showing us "No", we are a step closer to them saying "Yes!" Giving control in an exaggerated way helps our children to become much more flexible therefore allowing them to open themselves up to new experiences.
In a world where things can be unpredictable we can be a constant source of solid predictability where no means no! When you honor your child's "No", it doesn't mean that you are giving up or dropping your focus of offering the toilet, it simply means that in that moment, your child is not open to it, that is not to say that in 10 minutes our child may be different.
Have fun!
Here at The Autism Treatment Center of America, giving our special children as much control as possible is always on the main menu.
This is because The Son-Rise Program inpires our children to actually want to do things for themselves (like using the toilet in this example).
Giving our children control make us both attractive to be with and gives our children an opportunity to choose to develop self help skills such as toilet training. That means that whenever your child says "No", pulls away or indicates that they are not interested in the toilet then we will honor that and give them an immediate respect to their comunication.
Every time we honor our child's telling us or showing us "No", we are a step closer to them saying "Yes!" Giving control in an exaggerated way helps our children to become much more flexible therefore allowing them to open themselves up to new experiences.
In a world where things can be unpredictable we can be a constant source of solid predictability where no means no! When you honor your child's "No", it doesn't mean that you are giving up or dropping your focus of offering the toilet, it simply means that in that moment, your child is not open to it, that is not to say that in 10 minutes our child may be different.
Have fun!
Labels: Giving Control, Inspiration, Self-Help Skills, Son-Rise Program Staff
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posted by Becky Damgaard, Son-Rise Program Teacher at
6:26 PM
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Friday, February 12, 2010
Socialization: The Doorway to All Areas of Development
Using The Son-Rise Program will help your child in all area's of development.
We have a beautiful young girl in our Son-Rise Program Intensive this week, who not only has autism but also epilepsy which results in her having difficulty standing up, going up and down stairs, being unsteady on her feet, etc..
As the week has progressed we have seen that she has become more skilled and able in using her body. At the beginning of the week she could not go down the slide by herself without her falling off it - now she slides down unaided, smiling and laughing all the way down. It is wonderful to see.
Again and again I see and hear stories like this - when using the Son-Rise Program and helping a child learn to enjoy and socialize more strongly with others (the pivotal area of child development), they also grow in other developmental areas like cognitive, self-help, gross and fine motor skills.
Enjoy your child as they discover themselves, you and the rest of the world.
Love and smiles,
William
p.s. Would love to hear similar stories like this that have happened as you have run your Son-Rise Program with your child.
We have a beautiful young girl in our Son-Rise Program Intensive this week, who not only has autism but also epilepsy which results in her having difficulty standing up, going up and down stairs, being unsteady on her feet, etc..
As the week has progressed we have seen that she has become more skilled and able in using her body. At the beginning of the week she could not go down the slide by herself without her falling off it - now she slides down unaided, smiling and laughing all the way down. It is wonderful to see.
Again and again I see and hear stories like this - when using the Son-Rise Program and helping a child learn to enjoy and socialize more strongly with others (the pivotal area of child development), they also grow in other developmental areas like cognitive, self-help, gross and fine motor skills.
Enjoy your child as they discover themselves, you and the rest of the world.
Love and smiles,
William
p.s. Would love to hear similar stories like this that have happened as you have run your Son-Rise Program with your child.
Labels: Fun and Games, Self-Help Skills, William
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posted by William Hogan, Senior Son-Rise Program Teacher at
8:30 AM
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Wednesday, February 10, 2010
From Becky: Potty Training Take Two!
Hi,
Here are some more ideas that we use at The Autism Treatment Center of America to help our children to want to use the toilet.
2) Look for signs! Observe your child and see if they are giving you any clues as to when they are about to go to the toilet.
Do they get quiet and go into the corner? Do they hide? Do they fidget? Do they start to touch themselves? Some of our special children have sensitive guts and may press their belly or roll on their stomachs on a therapy ball when they have a poo coming. Pay attention to how many fluids they have drunk to know when they are due to pee.
The more we can recognise the signs our children are giving us when they are about to pee or poop, the more we will know they are ready for us to introduce the toilet to them.
The Son-Rise Program playroom is the perfect place to do this because it's a low distraction environment where you can be present with your child and really hone in on their cues. Also, if you have a linoleum style flooring that is easy to clean, it isn't a big deal if they have a few accidents along the way.
When you see the signs from your child, it's time to explain that it looks like they have a pee or poop coming. Excitedly encourage them to use the toilet. Whether your child is verbal or not yet verbal, our children still have receptive language, the explanations will educate them and help you to become predictable and easy to relate to.
Call (413)229-2100 to book a 25 minute toilet training consultation with one of our staff. We will give you specific techniques to use that are individual to your child.
More coming soon........
Here are some more ideas that we use at The Autism Treatment Center of America to help our children to want to use the toilet.
2) Look for signs! Observe your child and see if they are giving you any clues as to when they are about to go to the toilet.
Do they get quiet and go into the corner? Do they hide? Do they fidget? Do they start to touch themselves? Some of our special children have sensitive guts and may press their belly or roll on their stomachs on a therapy ball when they have a poo coming. Pay attention to how many fluids they have drunk to know when they are due to pee.
The more we can recognise the signs our children are giving us when they are about to pee or poop, the more we will know they are ready for us to introduce the toilet to them.
The Son-Rise Program playroom is the perfect place to do this because it's a low distraction environment where you can be present with your child and really hone in on their cues. Also, if you have a linoleum style flooring that is easy to clean, it isn't a big deal if they have a few accidents along the way.
When you see the signs from your child, it's time to explain that it looks like they have a pee or poop coming. Excitedly encourage them to use the toilet. Whether your child is verbal or not yet verbal, our children still have receptive language, the explanations will educate them and help you to become predictable and easy to relate to.
Call (413)229-2100 to book a 25 minute toilet training consultation with one of our staff. We will give you specific techniques to use that are individual to your child.
More coming soon........
Labels: Inspiration, Self-Help Skills, Son-Rise Program Staff
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posted by Becky Damgaard, Son-Rise Program Teacher at
7:14 AM
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Tuesday, February 9, 2010
From Becky: Potty Fun!
Hi All,
My next series of blogs are going to be about the toilet!!! Yeah for the toilet. Here at The Autism Treatment Center of America we love the toilet, we are excited about the toilet and we have many many ideas that can help your child get interested in the toilet, be motivated to sit on it, and to use it.
1) Get excited about pee and poop! How do we expect our children to be interested using the toilet if we, ourselves are making the pee and poop experience out to be a negative one.
I used to babysit for a Neuro-Typical 2 year old who's parents would make a big face as they would change his diaper and say "Peeeeeeeewww", they would refer to it as a "Stinky diaper" and then as a result, he wouldn't ever want to get his diaper changed and would be controlling around it.
Let's let our children know that peeing and pooping is a natural thing that out body does, it's helpful to us, useful and fun! Our bodies feel better when we do it and everybody does it. If you hide the fact that you do it too from them, then they will never learn how to manage it themselves.
When you need to go for a pee or a poop, tell them what's happening for you, do it in front of them and then give yourself a big cheer for putting it in the toilet. This is great to model with your other children and your partners. Give eachother a high five when you poop in the potty, let eachother flush the toilet after you have done a pee. We need to exaggerate things for our special children so that they take notice.
Let's get pee and poop, out of the closet!
More coming soon..........
My next series of blogs are going to be about the toilet!!! Yeah for the toilet. Here at The Autism Treatment Center of America we love the toilet, we are excited about the toilet and we have many many ideas that can help your child get interested in the toilet, be motivated to sit on it, and to use it.
1) Get excited about pee and poop! How do we expect our children to be interested using the toilet if we, ourselves are making the pee and poop experience out to be a negative one.
I used to babysit for a Neuro-Typical 2 year old who's parents would make a big face as they would change his diaper and say "Peeeeeeeewww", they would refer to it as a "Stinky diaper" and then as a result, he wouldn't ever want to get his diaper changed and would be controlling around it.
Let's let our children know that peeing and pooping is a natural thing that out body does, it's helpful to us, useful and fun! Our bodies feel better when we do it and everybody does it. If you hide the fact that you do it too from them, then they will never learn how to manage it themselves.
When you need to go for a pee or a poop, tell them what's happening for you, do it in front of them and then give yourself a big cheer for putting it in the toilet. This is great to model with your other children and your partners. Give eachother a high five when you poop in the potty, let eachother flush the toilet after you have done a pee. We need to exaggerate things for our special children so that they take notice.
Let's get pee and poop, out of the closet!
More coming soon..........
Labels: Attitude, Inspiration, Self-Help Skills, Son-Rise Program Staff
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posted by Becky Damgaard, Son-Rise Program Teacher at
1:33 PM
2 Comments
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
10 ways to make the toilet fun!
Here are 10 ways you can make going to the toilet fun, yes actually fun!
One way I have seen many children explore the toilet on their own accord successfully is to make it a fun and easy experience for both you and them and use their motivations to inspire them be near it, sit on it, and eventually use it!
1)Decorate the toilet with fun pictures or stickers of your child's favorite characters.
2) Give different stuffed animals and figurines rides to "Potty Station" to deliver their pee and poop, when your child is motivated, offer him/her a ride too.
3) Pick one of your child's main motivations (e.g. tickles, singing, bubbles, etc) and make the toilet into Tickle/Singing/Bubble toilet! each time your child goes near, or sits on the toilet, give him/her lots of the fun activity he/she loves. Being near, or sitiing on the toilet activates the fun activity.
4) Decorate the toilet like a throne and each time your child sits on it, tell him/her they are the king/queen and run to give them things (e.g. food, music, etc) as their servant.
5) Hang a fun mobil above the toilet so that when they sit on it, it's visually stimulating for them to watch. Experiment with blowing or moving the mobil for them once they sit on the toilet.
6) Try putting a couple of cheerio's down the toilet and encourage your child to hit the cheerio targets with their pee.
7) Use a fun, colorful seat to put on the toilet and a handy step stool if your child is smaller.
8) Celebrate Celebrate Celebrate! Whenever your child looks at, touches, sits on the toilet and ultimately uses it, cheer them on for all their attempts, help them to feel successful in what they are doing.
9) Give your child plenty of control, whenever he/she says "No" or resists what you offering, celebrate him/her for showing you and drop it for a while.
10) Be persistent, keep trying in many fun and different ways, it may not happen over night, be easy with yourself and your child, believe it will happen when your child is ready!
Have fun!
One way I have seen many children explore the toilet on their own accord successfully is to make it a fun and easy experience for both you and them and use their motivations to inspire them be near it, sit on it, and eventually use it!
1)Decorate the toilet with fun pictures or stickers of your child's favorite characters.
2) Give different stuffed animals and figurines rides to "Potty Station" to deliver their pee and poop, when your child is motivated, offer him/her a ride too.
3) Pick one of your child's main motivations (e.g. tickles, singing, bubbles, etc) and make the toilet into Tickle/Singing/Bubble toilet! each time your child goes near, or sits on the toilet, give him/her lots of the fun activity he/she loves. Being near, or sitiing on the toilet activates the fun activity.
4) Decorate the toilet like a throne and each time your child sits on it, tell him/her they are the king/queen and run to give them things (e.g. food, music, etc) as their servant.
5) Hang a fun mobil above the toilet so that when they sit on it, it's visually stimulating for them to watch. Experiment with blowing or moving the mobil for them once they sit on the toilet.
6) Try putting a couple of cheerio's down the toilet and encourage your child to hit the cheerio targets with their pee.
7) Use a fun, colorful seat to put on the toilet and a handy step stool if your child is smaller.
8) Celebrate Celebrate Celebrate! Whenever your child looks at, touches, sits on the toilet and ultimately uses it, cheer them on for all their attempts, help them to feel successful in what they are doing.
9) Give your child plenty of control, whenever he/she says "No" or resists what you offering, celebrate him/her for showing you and drop it for a while.
10) Be persistent, keep trying in many fun and different ways, it may not happen over night, be easy with yourself and your child, believe it will happen when your child is ready!
Have fun!
Labels: Creativity, Inspiration, Self-Help Skills, Son-Rise Program Staff
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posted by Becky Damgaard, Son-Rise Program Teacher at
5:55 AM
1 Comments
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Take the Battle Out of Tooth Brushing.
So you bought the kiddie friendly toothbrush in the shape of Shrek and the kiddie friendly toothpaste that the adverts promised, "no child could resist." Then why does your child with Autism run from the bathroom every time he sees the tooth brush?
Its not that our children have a phobia of toothbrushes, its that they do not want the fight that often times happens once the tooth brush appears. You want to help your child not get a cavity, they want to avoid being held down while a tooth brush is being prised into their mouths.
So...
1. Think, " I want my child to love brushing his own teeth, and to want to do it, versus just getting it done tonight."
2. "My child is more likely to entertain the thought of brushing his own teeth if I give him control."
3."If I keep doing the same thing, I will keep getting the same result."
4. Stop forcing the toothbrush into his mouth, and focus on making that toothbrush friendly and inviting to him, so he stops associating the toothbrush with a fight.
5. Get a bunch of toothbrushes and put them in your playroom, keep one in your top pocket, and start playing tooth brushing games.
6.If your child likes to be tickled, try tickling him with the tooth brush.
7.Brush the teddies teeth, play pretend dentist, where your child is the dentist, and you and the teddies or figurines are the patients.
8. Play super hero, where the super power comes from brushing your teeth. Once you brush your teeth you can fly, or have super human strength.
9. During these games encourage your child to touch and befriend the tooth brush. Cheering him when he does.
10.During the games, always give control, let your child know, that no means no, if they do not want to touch the toothbrush or want it to go away, you will put it away immediately. Then after a while, lets say a hour later you can re - introduce it in a fun and exciting way.
11. Once your child realized they do really have control they most likely will open themselves up to exploring the act of tooth brushing, because they know they can stop it at any time.
Have fun and let go!
Enjoy Kate
Labels: Kate, Self-Help Skills
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posted by Kate Wilde at
7:49 AM
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