Learning to use the toilet independently gives a great boost to a child's self-esteem. Additionally, this skill minimizes hygiene problems associated with long-term diaper use, such as skin irritation, urinary infections and embarrassment associated with accidents. Parents and children alike may have anxiety and concerns about potty training, and one way to lessen these worries is through the use of music as a potty-training tool.
Types
Potty training through music can work in one of several ways. According to Debbie Mondale, a professional music therapist writing at the Music Connection website, music or songs may be used to make going to the potty a fun, upbeat and positive experience. Singing a child's favorite song on the way to the bathroom creates a positive association and lessens the child's fears concerning potty use. Music can also be used as a reward--also known as positive reinforcement--for a child's success. If a child learns she will be rewarded with a favorite song for a successful potty trip, she has an incentive to complete the potty process. Lastly, music may be used to notify the child and carers when a diaper is wet or dirty. This can help the child realize when she needs to go to the potty--this is a key skill in potty training.
Supplies
You can implement music-based potty training at home simply by singing favorite songs with the child. Alternatively, you could use a CD player and a commercially available album of potty-training songs. Musical potties can be purchased from retailers--these play music when used by the child. Keep a supply of fresh batteries on hand for any electronic potty-training aids. Also make sure to have plenty of clean, cotton underwear for your child to wear during potty training. If the underwear is attractive to the child, or perhaps features a favorite cartoon character, it can serve as another form of positive reinforcement.
Theories/Speculation
In June 2009, the website Medical News Today reported a recent study involving a musical "wetting alarm" as a toilet-training tool. The study, which involved 39 children ages 18 months to 30 months, found that children with such an alarm in their diapers learned to achieve independent control of the bladder with greater speed and overall success than children without the wetting alarm. In addition to helping the children realize when they needed to potty, these musical alarms were helpful to day-care staffers in notifying them of a child's need to be changed.
Considerations
Music in potty training can help any child, but has been found particularly useful for children with special needs, including those on the autistic spectrum. Whether or not your child has special needs, implement a music-based potty training regimen in a positive, clear and consistent fashion. The uses of music may serve different training functions, and it is important these are not confused by you or the child. For example, a wetting alarm in the diaper serves as a provider of information to the child: "You have wet yourself." The music produced by a musical potty when your child has used the potty serves as positive reinforcement: "Congratulations! You have used the potty and I am rewarding you with some music you like." Care should be taken to differentiate the functions of the music so that a child, for example, does not interpret a wetting alarm as positive reinforcement. Starting with music for only one function--reinforcement, notification or relaxation--may be helpful.
Warning
Attempting to potty train a child who is not ready is more likely to lead to frustration and stress than success. According to the Gifted Learning Project website, readiness for potty training depends on the child's emotional and physical development rather than his age. A typical age for a child to be ready for potty training is 2 or 2 1/2 years old. Some kids, particularly those with a physical or developmental delay, may need to wait.
