Wednesday October 6, 2010

 Today I introduced the letter "D". We played our ball game where we roll the ball back and forth saying words which start with D. We also talked a tiny bit about orange when we had orange carrots (which are circles), but will be formally introducing orange tomorrow.

Here are some D links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBINAdbgDBc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKzne7HqK00&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-3USLvkYiw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOJXE1DWLAc&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbLZj7km5ZU

Additionally, I will  talk about potty training, since I don't get to see every parent at the end of the day. The children who are potty training go to the bathroom every 45 min. to every hour and a half. I ask continuously throughout the day, "Does anyone have to use the potty?" So far, I haven't been met with  a yes, but I ask to encourage initiative rather than just going. I like to take them often so that when we have a dry pullup, it can be a very positively reinforced event. This means that I get very excited and proud. I say, "WOW! I am so proud of you!" "I can't wait to tell your (Mom/Dad/Sister, etc.)!" I give a big-guy punch or a high five and hugs and kisses. We walk to the sticker station immediately after getting dressed and washing hands.
All of this needs to be done immediately for it to be effective. I also say, "Here is a sticker for keeping dry this time and I can't wait to give you a sticker again for staying dry!"

Keep in mind that I have many different kids throughout the day. I have to get kids breakfast, lunch and two snacks, and I have two different afternoon snack times for kids in school and out of school. I have to get kids on the bus twice during the day and get them off. I have parents dropping off, picking up, and calling at different times of the day. I do preschool activities, reading, and other activities and we go outside daily. It is not at all the same kind of attention that your child receives at home. I cannot possibly stick to a minute schedule and if someone else is using the potty, another child might have to wait. Being potty trained means going potty on his/her own and being able to hold it for a short time when necessary. One indication of potty training is not releasing urine less than every two hours. If this is not the case, your child is probably not biologically ready. Taking him/her potty and going, twice in two hours does not mean that they are biologically ready because if I left him/her in the diaper for that long it would be wet, in some cases.

When not dry, or when changing a poopy diaper, I keep it very low key. I do not express shame or anger. I do not give any attention. I say, "Oh. It's wet. Maybe next time we can get a sticker for being dry." or something like that. It is VERY important to not hug or comfort your child for feeling bad about it because that REINFORCES the behavior you do NOT want. It is equally important to not show anger or frustration because that also reinforces behavior. Attention is attention and children at this age LOVE attention. If your child begins to cry or say "ouch" when changing them, keep in mind that it might be a way to receive attention that they want and know they can get by manipulating, since this provided much attention before. Obviously if a child has a rash, they probably really do hurt, but children this age are very smart and can be very manipulative when wanting attention. (I am not saying manipulation is a negative character trait; I'm saying it's very normal 3 year old behavior and that as long as it is not reinforced,  he/she will not have a reason to continue being manipulative)

To sum up: Only give attention when the child displays good potty training behavior like staying dry, asking to use the toilet, going to use the toilet on his/her own, etc. Keep in mind to move up appropriately. For example, the children currently use the toilet every time I ask them to, so they are not rewarded for this anymore. They are rewarded for staying dry or asking to go, or going number 2. Since they will use the toilet regardless, it is pointless to reward them, and will only keep them at that level, since they are being rewarded.