Building confidence in your 2-4 year old is so important! It goes right along with building their self-esteem. Giving your little one a boost of positivity will give them the assurance they need to tackle new milestones, like potty training!
It Starts with You- Be a positive mirror
You are your child’s main source for how they view themselves. If you project positivity, love and self-confidence, you will pass that on to your son or daughter. Show your child an upbeat and cheerful attitude towards the world. If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
Your outlook will help your child learn how to deal with things as they arise. If you are happy, they will learn to be happy. If you are stressed, they will learn to be stressed. They are always watching and absorbing what’s around them; provide them a model for how to move through their daily challenges (and yes, trying to stack a fourth block on their tower IS a challenge). Having this positive example will give them the chance to develop a deep confidence when tackling anything new, including potty training.
Toys Matter:
A teddy or doll may seem like another toy spilling out of their toy chest, however they serve a very important purpose in your child’s development, including building their confidence and sense of safety in the world. Your child’s special friend can help your little one manage his/her experiences and the complex emotions that come along with them. For example, you’ll often see your toddler having a very involved conversation with their toy, explaining something very important to them. This experience is wonderful for a parent to observe as they witness their child make sense of the world on their own terms and in their own language. You will often see children mimicking the daily routines they experience, like putting teddy to bed, getting teddy dressed, or even giving teddy a timeout, all very helpful as they learn to master these routines themselves.
As we all know, many children develop strong connections to stuffed animals. This attachment results these toys becoming invaluable tools that parents can use to help their little one gain confidence. Essentially, a stuffed animal is that link between full reliance on you and movement toward independence. Neither full reliance or total independence are beneficial or possible at this age and so that teddy bear can really help in the transition.
Play with Your Child
Allow your child to initiate play by choosing what they want to do: princesses, superheros, cars, going to the playground. Not only will this make them feel great that you like to play what they like to play but studies have shown that an activity initiated by a child holds their attention longer than one started by a parent.
While playing with your child may simply seem like something to keep them occupied, it actually plays a critical role in their development. Taking the time to play with them contributes to their self-worth by making them feel special and communicates to them that they are worth your time. Playing with your child on a daily basis gives them a steady stream of that support and encouragement.
Give Your Undivided Attention
Similar to playing with your child, frequently giving your undivided attention let’s your child know that you value them and are interested in what they have to say or do. Eye contact, touch and saying your child’s name lets them know that they are special and meaningful.
Of course life gets in the way and phone calls and an influx of emails can distract you so just make it a point to try to turn all of it off for your ‘undivided time’ with your little one. Even a young child can sense a parent who is distracted so write a list of work items to complete, leave it on your office desk and fully embrace time with your little one. Not only will being fully present in the moment be great for their self-worth but it will allow you to really “see” and experience your child. They really do grow up fast! This is especially important when potty training as your undivided attention is significant in making your child feel secure about this change in the routine
Give a Special Job
Responsibility for a 2 or 3 year old? Yes! Give a small chore that you think they would enjoy like making sure everyone has a cup (make sure to use unbreakable cups) at dinnertime or sweeping the kitchen with a small broom. Have them be the line leaders (in your family) when you are going somewhere familiar to them.
ou could even make a list of chore options for them to choose. Having this job helps children feel useful and needed. Simply giving this responsibility to your little one who has witnessed you doing this same task communicates to them that you trust them and that they are capable. What a powerful message! This self-assurance can carry over to potty training, making them willing to try to tackle another task with your guidance.
Thanks for these tips by Dr. Maria of PoGO Potty Panda, a potty training system, to help boost your child’s self-esteem (A potty training system that helps teaching your child to use the potty both FUN and stress-free). While these pointers certainly help with potty training, they go far beyond that to the overall well-being of your mini. A positive and self-assured outlook will help them overcome the many new challenges they face as they continue to reach new developments.
