A Potty Training Chart Can be an Easy and Effective Resource for Parents

Potty training a child is sometimes a difficult task, but it doesn't have to be. I have potty trained my four children, as well as assisted in the potty training of various children I've cared for as a nanny or babysitter. There are many things a parent or caregiver can do to make it easier on themselves, as well as the child. Making and using a simple potty training chart is one very helpful aid in the process. A potty training chart is easy to make and cost-effective as well.

Materials
Only a few things are needed to make this easy to use potty training chart.

11" x 17" white poster board (2 sheets)
pkg of colored permanent markers, such as Sharpie brand
adhesive Velcro
scissors

How To Make The Potty Training Chart
To make your child a simple, but effective potty training chart, gather the materials listed above. First, take the darkest color in your marker set and draw a line across the middle of one sheet of poster board lengthwise. Next draw six lines down the width (from top to bottom), making fourteen even-sized boxes on the poster board - seven on the top row and seven on the bottom.

Now cut thirty-six small squares out of one side of the adhesive Velcro. Stick four squares into each box. The Velcro squares should be spread apart evenly. Stick the remaining four squares in the four corners on the backside of the poster board potty training chart.

Next, you'll need to draw some very simple symbols to represent the steps involved in potty training (listed below). You'll draw these on the other piece of white poster board. Each icon should only be about 2" in size. Some suggestions are a clock, a tissue roll, a toilet, and a hand. Once you have drawn a basic outline of each icon and outlined it in a dark color, color it in if you wish. Then, cut them all out and place a Velcro square on each, remembering to use the other side of the Velcro, so that they will stick to the side you have used on the chart.

Hang your chart in a spot in your bathroom that is easy for your toddler to reach and see. Your toddler will be the one operating the chart. To hang the chart, simply place squares cut from the second side of the Velcro adhesive onto the wall or other hanging area in a way that will line up with how you've placed the squares on the back of the potty training chart. Now it's time to get training!

How To Use The Potty Training Chart
This simple potty training chart is designed with the child in mind. The little one will actually be controlling the potty training chart, with the supervision of the parent or caregiver. First, show the chart to your child and explain what it is for in simple terms. Then, instruct the child on how to use the potty and have the child do so with the following suggested steps.

Potty Steps
made it to the potty on time
used tissue
flushed toilet
washed hands

Hand the child the chart icons and allow the child to place them on the chart after all the steps have been completed. As the child uses the potty each time, the icons should move over a space. If the child has an accident, they move back to the beginning. When the child has used the potty 14 times in a row with no accident, present the child with some kind of award. I like to use free printable potty certificates. FreePrintableCertificates.net has a cute one.

Sources:

Free Printable Certificates
http://www.freeprintablecertificates.net/showcover/you_did_it_certificate_potty

Personal Experience