| Potty training toddlers can be hard work. But for | | | | is with visual aides, rather than spoken commands. |
| any child, autistic or not, this is a very important | | | | Showing your child simple illustrations of the entire |
| step in the developmental process, and one that | | | | process of using the bathroom can help them |
| should not be delayed. Autism potty training, | | | | understand the process better. These can be |
| however, may bring about a little dread in parents | | | | simple illustrations or symbolic representations. |
| that are about to undergo the process. This article | | | | Another hurdle to overcome when potty training |
| will briefly cover some of the ways you can help | | | | autistic children is that they often times cannot |
| ease this process, and what you should expect. | | | | sense when they need to go to the bathroom. |
| First, it is important that you understand that | | | | To overcome this, a good idea may be to |
| some fundamental and universal techniques for | | | | establish a strict routine. Using a clock or timer, |
| potty training children are simply not applicable to | | | | teach your child how to use the bathroom at the |
| children with autism. Or, more accurately, these | | | | same times each day. As children with autism |
| rules are not applicable in their original form - not | | | | naturally move toward routine, this should not be |
| without some tweaking, anyway. It is also | | | | too hard. |
| important to understand that this process will not | | | | Lastly, it is important to understand that children |
| be easy, no matter the level of learning ability of | | | | with autism do not accept change into their lives |
| your child. The process is not easy for any child. | | | | easily. Because of this, it is important to stay |
| You will need to bring patience and determination | | | | patient and understanding during the potty training |
| to the table in order to be successful. | | | | process. While any child can have difficulty learning |
| Before you start the potty training process, it is | | | | to be potty trained, with autistic children, the |
| important to remember that children with autism | | | | process can be especially daunting. This doesn't |
| to not tend to react to positive reinforcements | | | | mean that it is impossible, however. If you accept |
| and stimuli in the same fashion as other children | | | | the challenges ahead of you, and maintain that |
| do. Because of this, you should probably avoid | | | | you will overcome them to achieve positive |
| offering your child rewards or prizes based on | | | | results right from the very start, then you will |
| their behavior, as their reaction will likely vary | | | | ultimately be successful. |
| from instance to instance and cannot be counted | | | | Autism potty training does not have to make you |
| upon. | | | | feel a sense of dread. With some hard work and |
| It is also important to fully communicate the | | | | patience, this task can be effectively |
| importance of using a toilet to your child, as they | | | | accomplished. Although be prepared for it to take |
| may simply not understand the reasoning behind | | | | longer and probably start later than for children |
| such an act. An effective way to accomplish this | | | | without autism. |