35. Potty Training Through a Sensory Emotional Lens

Potty training can be a rollercoaster of emotions for both caregivers and kids. The pressure and stress surrounding this milestone can feel overwhelming at times. Whether it's the comments from other caregivers or grandparents about it being "time" or the need to meet deadlines for preschool transitions, the pressure to help our kids achieve this goal can be intense. As we chatted about in a recent episode, our stress levels can affect our kids, and stress can make it really hard for them to go to the bathroom. We also know that there are many sensory motor reasons that can make potty training tough and stressful for our kids. So today, we're taking a Sensory Emotional Lens on potty training in hopes of making this journey a little less stressful for everyone! In this episode, you'll discover: The underlying sensory processing and motor capacities needed for successful potty training Common emotional experiences during potty training  How to invite positive emotional experiences during potty training  Ways to act and interact with your child, based on their Sensory Emotional Personalities, to support emotion regulation and sensory motor capacities while potty training  Ways to use play, including exploration, power roles, and helper roles, to bring success in potty training  For more strategies for potty training and other daily living skills, please visit our learning portal in the upcoming weeks: https://sensoryemotionalcenteroflearning.teachable.com Join our community! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesensoryemotional_ot/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greatkidsplace/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreatKidsPlace/ Want more resources? Please visit our blog: https://greatkidsplace.com/category/blog/ and https://sensoryemotional.org/   About Michele Parkins MS, OTR/L IMH-E® Founder & Director, Great Kids Place  Founder, Sensory Emotional Engagement Model™ Michele is an Occupational Therapist endorsed as an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist. She specializes in working with children and families with Sensory Processing and Integration Disorders and challenges in social-emotional development. She is also a parent of two sensory kids. She works and lives sensational kids! Michele is a fellow of Dr. Lucy Jane Miller, OTR.   Michele is passionate about working with families and other therapists and continues to do so as a clinician and educator. She educates therapists from all over the country and world and continues to provide consultation to schools on treatment for sensory processing disorder. Michele has co-authored a chapter in the 3rd edition of Sensory Integration: Theory and Practice, the textbook for sensory evaluation and treatment, alongside world-renowned pioneers in the field, and is currently writing a parenting book and children’s books.  She hopes to help everyone - children and adults- understand their Sensory Emotional Personality™ style and ways to find strength and joy within them.