Roanoke Rapids daily herald., 1948-12-29
A Training
Problem
ForMother
., GARRY CLEVELAND MYERS, Ph.D.

~ JANNI SL6VLLANU MEM, LII.
PERHAPS no other problem is
more trying to the mother Of the
child from one to two or three than
hat Of cultivsting in him good toilet
habits. While some mothers can ac-
eomplish this training amazingly
early, many mothers begin the
training too soon. Their failures so
vsx and humiliate them that they
have . needless amount of worry
and their success may be badly
delayed.
What hampers so many young
mothers is that they compare their
progress unfavorably with other
mothers who brag about their own
early successes; and lot of moth
srs delight in lording it over other
mothers about such matters.
Something to Remember
Young Mother: Just remember
your baby is your baby. Let other
people mind their own business. Be-
fore you begin on this training prob
lem think through your personal re-
sources. Consider when you can
carry through patiently and con-
sistently, taking into account the
probable cooperation or interference
by other adult members Of the fam
lily. Keep in mind that you will get
best results if you can work out q
good way to help your little tyke to
make the necessary connections in
his mind and body, with the most
frequent and greatest degree of sat-
isfaetion and the least annoyance to
him. Remember, too, that the less
you allow yourself to be annoyed by
his accidents or failures and the
more you can show pleasure over
his successes the better his coopera-
ton will be.
Please remember two key factors:
learning his rhythm Of voiding and
svacuating and getting him always
on the vessel at the right time. Be
happy when he tells you but don't
wall at him, "Why didn't you tell
Mother! :" Always show strong ap-
proval by gentle, tender words and
loving pats when he does perform.
Aim to get him to stay on the nurs-
cry chair long enough for success.
It should be . comfortable seat, low
and with footrest. Some mothers
provide toilet seat with comfort
able footrest to fit over the adult
seat. It is fine also to have steps
leading thereto for the tot to- climb
and thus take care of himself. The
more you can appeal to his self
reliance, the better, Of course.
Win Cooperation
Now you best win the tots coop
Grafton at toilet training if you
also have won his cooperation in
the many other normal situations
about the home. Nothing happens
singly. To this end you have to avoid
stubbornness and win cooperation
in the youngster. (My bulletin,
"stubbornness," may be had in a
stamped envelope.)
II the child as old as twenty
months or two years, in spite of all
your persuasive efforts, refuses to
sit long enough on the nursery
chair, when you place him there con-
S .ently at the proper times, you
should not hold him there against
his resistance, since he hardly will
perform" while angry. Yet you will
realize then that you need to give
him effective training elsewhere and
At other times in the meaning of
mo" Once this is accomplished he
will accept "No" as final and with
out resistance while on the nursery
chair. Then a quiet mo" should
suffice.
II the child once well-trained re-
verts to where he was before the
training, just refrain him as il
from the beginning. 1t won't take
10 long as before if you can man
age yourself well. my bulletins
Teaching Toilet Habits" ane
"Some Psychology of Bed-wetting,'
may be had in stamped envelope.
Answering Parents Questions
Q. Ny daughter, ~, wants to g,
two or three evenings for a wall
after dark with two or three cir
friends.
A. OF course, these girls fgur
they will run across some boys. Sh
will be a whole lot safer to go TO
the walk in daylight, you knowing
where; or with an older, responsible
person after dark. Why not protec
her?