SPECIAL PROBLEMS
TOILET TRAINING 339
If the child still does not have enough bladder control or awareness, it is best
to wait until she is older. For example, some children with cerebral palsy are slow in
developing bladder control.
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If the child does not hear or understand simple language, or is mentally slow, more
of the training needs to be done by showing and less with words. Special gestures or
‘signs’ need to be worked out for ‘wet’, ‘dry’, ‘dirty’, ‘clean’, and ‘pot’ or ‘latrine’. Instead
of teaching by using a doll, it is more helpful to have another child demonstrate toilet
use.
If the child is stubborn, refuses to cooperate when asked to do simple things, or
often cries and screams whenever he does not get what he wants, toilet training will be
more difficult. Stubbornness and refusal to do what they are told are common in many
handicapped children—mainly because they are often overprotected or spoiled. Before
trying to toilet train such children, it is wise to work first on improving their attitude and
behavior. This is discussed in Chapter 40.
If a child’s physical disability makes it difficult for her to get to the toilet place, to
lower her pants, to squat or sit, or to clean her butt, various aids or ways must be
looked for to help her become as independent as possible. These will be discussed on
the next pages.
2. Put the child on the pot at the times when she is most likely to
use it
Before beginning toilet training, for several
days notice at what time of the day the child
shits and pees. Usually there will be certain
times when she usually does so—for example,
soon after the first meal of the day.
Begin to put her on the pot or latrine at these
times, encouraging her to make ‘poo’ or ‘pee’
(or whatever she calls it).
Leave her on the pot until she ‘goes’—or for
no more than 10 minutes.
If the child ‘goes’, clap your hands, kiss her,
show her what she has done, and let her know
how pleased you are.
If she does not ‘go’, just ignore it. Do not scold or make her feel bad, or she may
begin to fear or dislike the pot, and refuse to use it.
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