Difficult Temperament Child

The child with difficult temperament probably wont potty train with out some concentrated effort. This child likes things his way but will respond to clear expectations and attentive support.

• Potty training is a physical activity. This child may not love sitting still but may love running to the potty or pulling the toilet paper when he's finished. You can give timely reminder to keep your child's activity level focused. "First potty, then we'll pull this much toilet paper.... and stop". Teaching stop is a game not a threat.

• The child can be unpredictable in his schedule. This is a strength if you are a flexible parent. You will naturally check in on your child's needs rather than expect today to resemble yesterday.

• Your genuine engagement will outweighs any other distractions and will be a powerful resource while potty training.

• He like to do things in a "big way". Use this trait to create big potty training excitement.

• He will experience every nuance of potty training. If you tune in to his sensory world, you can make the necessary adjustment and give him explicit verbal descriptions of his feelings.

• The child with difficult temperament likes to feel in control. You can turn this into a positive by letting him feel like he's choosing where, when and how to potty. Of corse, you must remain the invisible hand orchestrating his success.

• He will passionately protest change.

• This child may say "NO" when he really means maybe. The world is full of high maintenance people artist, scientist, inventors. You will have great stories to tell and encourage him to discover this new world of potty training.

Difficult Temperament Child Potty Training Challenges


The child with difficult temperament will be the most challenging to potty train. But remember, this is not about you as a parent doing things wrong and it's not about the child deliberately making your life stressful. This is the way your child approaches new situations. This is how he was born. You cannot change your child temperament. You can however teach your child to make the most of his strengths.

He can learn how he will respond in different situations and will eventually learn successful strategies to compensate for challenging moments. This requires time and energy on your part, specially during the potty training years. Your child need help to regulate his experience until he learns self control. He is stuck between wanting control and hating change. Stuck between too much and too little. Is up to you to build the bridge that will help him get across.

Because the child with difficult temperament resist change, he may not feel ready for potty training. You will have to observe readiness characteristic on your own and start building that bridge. You may have to work hard to win his "buy in". But once you have it, he won't let anything get in his way.