Potty training is an important milestone in development

Potty training is about much more than stopping with diapers. It is a step in which your child learns to feel what is going on in the body, acts on it and becomes more independent step by step. For your child this gives pride and self-confidence, and for you as a parent more peace and ease. In this article you will read why potty training is a real milestone, how it is related to other skills and how you can help your child learn with pleasure.

1. What does potty training mean to your child?

Becoming potty-trained means that your child recognizes signals from its own body and does something with them. For example, stopping playing to go to the potty. That gives:

Independence: your child can take off pants, go potty and wash hands by himself.
Control over the body: your child experiences having control over pee and poop.
Pride: moments of success give self-confidence and encourage you to keep going.

2. Learning together: parent and child as a team

Potty training is something you do together. You provide words, routine and support; your child practices feeling and doing. With the three Rs, you keep it organized:

Determined: keep practicing, even if there is an accident.
Predictable: offer set moments and the same words.
Cheerful: keep it lighthearted and positive, even when things don't work out.

By working together and keeping the atmosphere relaxed, your child feels safe to practice and take new steps.

3. From interest to control

You can think of potty training as four phases in succession:

Interest: your child watches, asks questions or wants to put a cuddly toy on the potty.
Feeling: your child notices urges in the abdomen and names them.
Practice: your child links feeling to action and goes to the potty (with help).
Control: your child controls himself and can hold up pee and poop until the right time.

Not every child goes through this at the same pace. Sometimes it goes smoothly, sometimes with a relapse. That's part of the process.

4. What else will your child learn from it?

Potty training is related to other skills:

Movement: learning to sit up, stand up, take off and put on pants.
Talking and understanding: using words such as "pee" or "wet," and following short directions.
Plan and remember: stop playing for a moment, keep a sequence: pants off - sit - flush - wash hands.
Doing things together: participating with other children at daycare or with friends feels easier when the potty or toilet are familiar.

So your child is not only practicing potty training, but also language, movement and social skills that will be important later in school.

5. Comparison with other milestones

Potty training is similar to learning to walk or talk. It goes step by step, with lots of practice and sometimes a relapse. You guide, encourage and celebrate small successes. This makes the step less exciting and gives your child the courage to continue trying.

6. Small successes build motivation

Children prefer to learn by feeling capable. That means making success small and positive:

Name the effort: "Nice that you sat down for a moment" is just as important as "You peed in the potty."
Briefly celebrate: a smile, high five or "bye pee!" when flushing.
Offer choices: do you want to go on the potty or the toilet? Do you want now or after the book?

In this way, motivation grows from within: your child wants to keep trying on their own, because they feel they can succeed.

7. What it gives parents

For you as a parent, it's more than less diapers. You learn to read your child better, you discover how predictability helps, and you experience that gentle and consistent parenting works. You take that confidence to other steps, such as dressing yourself or learning to ride a bike.

Frequently asked questions

Is potty training primarily physical or primarily mental?

Both. Your child needs a maturing body as well as words, understanding and routine. Only when these come together does potty training develop.

What if my child regresses?

That is part of learning. Slowly pick up the routine again. Often your child will be back to his or her old level within a few days.

Should I go big on success?

You don't have to. Short and sincere works best. A nod, a smile or a high five is enough.

Summary

Becoming potty-trained is a big developmental step. Your child learns to sense signals, use words and follow routines. This not only increases independence, but also self-confidence and the ability to participate in everyday life. By celebrating small successes, providing predictability and working with other educators, you can make potty training a positive milestone your child can be proud of.