Potty training without rewards

Anybody do this? Potty train without stickers, M and M's, or toys? Everyone I ask for help suggests rewards. I just don't like what that teaches them. How do you potty train without using rewards?

 

Yup, the only reward they got was to see mommy and their sibling dance and sing like crazy fools! How did I do it? I know I probably sound like a broken record to those who continue to read my potty training posts but I didn't do anything really. One day they were ready to make the switch from diaper to underwear and we did, no rewards, no timers, no potty chairs, no pull ups, no accidents (well maybe a handful between the two of them for various reasons including an upset tummy).

 

Potty training is hard work and I don't really see what is wrong with rewarding them with stickers or something for a success. We get rewarded with a kiss for all our hard work with our kids and if we work hard at work we get rewarded with our pay. Most successes come with some sort of reward, our kids have been going in thier diapers since they were born. I think they deserve something for thier successes.

Maybe the reward could just be singing and dancing, but I still think that is a reward.

 

We didn't do any real rewards until the end. They each got a big reward for being done with diapers, and Jon got a few to help him over the hump with pooping--he was almost 4, and it was in conjunction with his preschool teacher. For the most part we did hugs and kisses. There is a difference between hugs/kisses/dancing, and stickers or candy. The first group are internal rewards that help a child feel good. The second are external rewards. Internal rewards help a child understand that what they are doing is good. When a child is only doing something for the external reward, they have a harder time developing an idea of doing something because they should--they only do it for the reward--does that make sense?

 

We didn't reward, just clapping etc.. we didn't do it until after 3 though, so it woz basically done in less than a week, if it went on for a while then not sure wot would be best.


amanda

 

Yep that makes perfect sense. We definitely used both. The first day it was stickers but after that it was mostly encouragement and excitement.