I have a preschooler who goes thru all of the potty training steps except for actually urinating, any ideas?

Question

He is 5 and one of his IEP goals last year was to start potty training. He goes into the restroom, pulls down his pants/pull-ups, wipes himself, flushes and washes his hands. Everything but actually going. We thought about musical ducks in the potty, since he likes music and is visually impaired. He has some vision, and loves to listen to music. Has anyone tried this idea?? Any other ideas??

Answer 1

I am sure you have tried this but ..... let him go with out the pull up and wet in his pants. (You will have to do it at home) But pull ups tend to be so absorbent that at times children do not feel the wet so don't make the connection.

A friend pumped her son up with water, set a timer for every 15 min. and took him to the toilet. Every few days she increased the time between taking him to the toilet. It worked for her.

Find something he really really wants. Make a sticker chart and each time he goes he gets a sticker. When he reaches his predetermined goal he gets the prize. For us it was a month of no accidents.

You may have to try each of these things in order, make sure he understands the sensation, showing him where to go and reward follow through of the new skill!

Good luck!

Answer 2

I realize he is 5, but have you tried the musical potty chair?  That may be a good start for him, especially if he likes music.  Have him sit on the potty, set a timer and have him sit there for a predetermined amount of time.  Run the water while he is sitting there, and maybe it will make him have to go and once he does it praise him and have a "potty party" for him.  Make a BIG deal out of it!

Answer 3

Other than being VI, does he have any other disabilities that are making this process difficult?

When my students (boys) had toileting difficulties, we would put fruit loops in the toilet for aiming purposes, so the ducks might help, or maybe a big, brightly colored ring. Also, does he know what it should sound like? Try pouring some water in the toilet to show him and make a big deal about the sound. Then tell him if you hear his pee in the potty that you'll reward him with something (maybe music if he loves it so much).

Good Luck! =)

Answer 4

One thing that worked well for me was a tape of "potty songs".  They had traditional tunes, like "I"ve been working on the railroad", but with alternative words "I've been sitting on the potty".  I would play it in the car, and it really got the idea across that using the potty was a good thing to do, and puting something in it would make mom and dad happy.

Also, there are a lot of story books with children going to the potty.

Perhaps being able to see a young child using it, what they do there, and seeing them praised for it would also help, if there's someone appropriate.

Answer 5

Is he doing this when he actually needs to go to the toilet.

He may not understand that he can actually go there. Is it possible to get one of the other children to show him that you can. (I'm not sure if you'd be aloud to do that but it's a suggestion).

Or you could show him what happens when the stuff goes into the potty.

Also try putting anything from his pull-ups in the potty. This might help him understand that this is where my 'waste' goes.