Friday, August 8, 2008

Toilet Training

This is a great method for toilet training children with autism (and typical kids!)
Wake-up and get dressed in underwear. That's right, no more diapers during the day. Set a timer for 20 minutes. When the timer goes off, your child needs to check his/her own pants to make sure they are dry. If they are, then reward with a small treat. Set the timer again for 20 minutes. When it goes off, have your child sit on the toilet for 1-3 minutes. If he/she has a sucess, reward with a bigger treat. Set the timer again for 20 minutes. When it goes off, your child needs to check his/her pants again for dry and clean. Reward if they are and repeat the process until nap time or bed time. Put a diaper on when your child sleeps. When your child has two days of being dry and clean on this schedule, move the time up in 10 minute increments.
Reinforcement: Find 3 different sizes of treats. M&M's work great because they come packaged in 3 sizes, mini, regular and ogar (big huge Shrek ones). Your child will get a mini treat every time the timer goes off and he/she is dry. Reward with the medium size treat when he/she has a success in the toilet and a big one for popping in the toilet. The important thing to remember is your child gets a treat for being dry and clean throughout the day.

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