Potty Training
Rachel Evans
According to Freudian psychology, potty training is an
extremely important stage of child development. While not
everything Freud wrote about is accepted as truth, this stage
of development is widely understood as an important milestone
in personal growth. The difficulty with potty training with an
autistic child can be a singular challenge. If an autistic
child is ever to gain a semblance of independence, it is
necessary that potty training be carried out correctly.
There are techniques for potty training a normally developing
child. These practices are fairly universal, but for the most
part, they do not apply to the autistic child. Toilet training
an autistic child requires some adjustment to basic strategies.
When potty training a normally developing child it is common
for parents to use prizes and rewards to reinforce the behavior
being taught. However, when it comes to autistic children, they
do not usually react in the same way to positive reinforcement.
Sometimes they may acknowledge it and other times it can be
totally ignored. Autism is a disorder in which social
interactions are impaired. Some autistic children may even
avoid close relationships with their own parents, preferring to
be alone or detached. This must be taken into consideration when
drawing up a plan for potty training.
Furthermore, autistic children may not have an understanding of
why it is important to relieve themselves in the toilet. This
breakdown in communication is extremely important to address.
Many autistic children do not speak. This creates another
problem in terms of potty training. However, one of the most
difficult challenges seems to be breaking autistic children out
of rigidly adhered to routines. Many autistic children become
attached to routines and find them difficult to break out of.
An autistic child switching from diapers to underwear might
sense this as a threatening change. The noise of the toilet
flushing could also bother them.
If you’ve looked into methods of how autistic children learn
then you are aware that most are extreme visual learners.
Instead of using words to communicate the importance of toilet
training to autistic toddlers, it is best to utilize visuals.
The rate of success in toilet training using visual cues over
verbal ones in toddlers with autism has been well documented.
In fact, there is an entire industry of products related to
helping teach autistic toddlers how to be properly potty
trained.
In terms of the visuals that can be employed, the most common
type is a series of pictures, similar to a comic book that
relates the behavior that is going to be taught. These cards
demonstrate the entire process of using the toilet and include
information on what happens after the toilet process is
finished. If you’re comfortable with the idea, let your child
see you use the toilet. This visual cue will reinforce what you
are telling them.
One of the other difficulties of potty training an autistic
child is the fact that many of them do not sense the need to
use the bathroom and are prone to having accidents. One of the
ways this can be addressed in through the use of a timer.
Timing out when the child should go to the bathroom can turn
the urge to go into a routine.
As mentioned earlier, autistic children are often fiercely
opposed to change. When beginning potty training do not expect
to succeed all at once. The process should be taken slow and
steady, completely at the pace of your child.
Although autism is a disorder that impairs the ability to
communicate in a social manner it is possible for many autistic
children to learn how to function independently. Potty training
is one of the most important steps that will influence the life
of an autistic child. If you want further information on potty
training autistic children, there are plenty of resources and
experts that can lead you in the right direction.
About The Author: Rachel Evans has an interest in Autism. For
further information on Autism please visit
http://www.essential-guide-to-autism.com/autism.html or
http://www.essential-guide-to-autism.com/blog/2006/08/18/potty-training/
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