Potty Training Reward Ideas

Looking for the just the right potty training reward? You don’t want to reward your preschooler too lavishly for something that should come naturally. But potty training will never work if your preschooler doesn’t get some form of potty training reward for his effort. If you’re struggling with the idea of potty training rewards and what to use, consider the following:

Food Rewards for Potty Training

The most debated reward for potty training is giving a preschooler candy or a special snack for a successful trip to the bathroom. M&Ms™ are the most common, at least according to most informal Mom surveys. They are small and easily transportable or kept out of the way until earned.

Stickers for Potty Training

Preschoolers love stickers, and a collection of special stickers can be a great reward for potty training. Make a chart for your preschooler and for every successful trip, offer her a sticker to put on. When she accumulates enough stickers, it’s time for the big prize!

Coupons for Potty Training

An even easier idea is to use coupons as a potty training incentive. Coupons can be for five extra minutes at bedtime, an extra snack, a special seat at the table or even just thirty minutes or an hour playing with Mommy or Daddy. They are free and only require your creativity and scissors.

Money for Potty Training

The tooth fairy brings money, why shouldn’t the potty fairy? Actually, offering your child money for potty training is essentially no different than any other reward system. Help your child collect coins in a jar and when it is full, head to the store to buy a special prize.

Praise for Potty Training

The most basic reward system for potty training is to simply offer lavish praise and consistent support of your child’s efforts. This can be combined with any other potty training reward system or it can be enough by itself for many children. Preschoolers want to please their parents, so praise them for all your worth when they make it to the potty on time.

But Be Careful…

You should exercise a bit of caution with reward systems. No, it’s unlikely your child will be addicted to the reward system for more than a few months, but a problem can occur while they are actually in the process of potty training. The crux of the problem is what to do when there is an accident.

If a reward is there for a good job, it’s positive reinforcement of doing the right thing. But if something is withheld for an accident, it can make a preschooler feel punished for something that is a perfectly normal part of potty training. So lavish praise and rewards for a job well done, and be sure to praise the effort and be supportive of your preschooler even when she doesn’t quite make it on time.

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