An Inside Look Into Toilet Learning the “Montessori” Way

Did you know that potty training, or “toilet learning”, as we call it, should start before 18 months of age? In our school, children begin the toileting process as soon as they can pull themselves up and support their bodies. It’s not about setting high expectations, assuming child will learn how to use the toilet and control their bladder right away, but more of establishing a routine, and providing all of the tools the child needs to succeed. In time, they will recognize that using the toilet is a common routine. They will internalize the concept, ‘my urine goes in the toilet, not in my diaper or on the floor’. They recognize that you respect their time and space by providing a safe place for them to fulfill their bodily needs. Each meticulous step in the toileting process, is a step towards the child’s overall independence and self confidence.

Capturing Ordinary Days: Journey to Independence

Montessori practice supports the natural unfolding of human development in the earliest years. Assistants to Infancy teachers work collaboratively with the child through the stages of acquiring abilities, using such tools as keen observation skills, a dynamic language environment and the understanding that each new level of abilities achieved becomes a stepping stone for the next. Adults gain an appreciation of what concentration looks like for children under three years of age. The teacher understands that each child’s growth is following a critical pattern established by nature and that moments of “developmental crises” that present themselves are really opportunities for moving forward to the next level. Toilet learning is approached using Montessori principles and respectfully maintaining the dignity of the child. The signs are clear when a child is ready to transition from the infant community into a primary setting.

Full Credit: http://montessoriguide.org/journey-to-independence/