For autistic children, the process of toilet training and transitioning to using the bathroom can be challenging at all levels of functioning.
However, with proper preparation and personalization, it can be made easier and turned into a successful process.
Delays in the process can stem from difficulty in awareness of needs, anxiety, regulation difficulties, constipation or holding back, and more.
Additionally, previous unsuccessful attempts can leave a feeling of confusion for both the child and parents.
Many parents find themselves dealing with difficulties in the process, and for children on the spectrum, one of the most important and basic things is consistency, along with personalization to the child's strengths and abilities.
🟡 How to start the toilet training process for children on the autism spectrum?
The first stage in the toilet training process is preparing the groundwork and checking the starting point from which it's best to begin.
Monitoring and routine 🕐: Consistency is one of the most important things for children on the autism spectrum.
Therefore, it's recommended to change diapers in a fixed place, like the bathroom, and create a connection between using the bathroom and toileting needs.
It's recommended that parents talk about themselves out loud and say clear words like "I'm going to the bathroom to pee" or "I'm pooping now". This will give the child a clear connection between words and actions.
Improving bathroom visibility 🚗🎲: It's worthwhile to make the bathroom an attractive place. Use favorite toys, symbols, or drawings; this will make it easier for the child to create a positive association with the bathroom.
Emotional and visual preparation 👀: If the child likes books or videos, enrich your collection and incorporate reading books, watching, and talking about those suitable for the toilet training process into your routine.
Gradual progression and independence 📈: Engage the child to be a full partner in their changes.
The child can lower their pants and underwear alone, throw the diaper in the trash, dress themselves with necessary help, wash hands alone.
This way, responsibility for the process will gradually transfer to them.
During the change, verbalize things: "You felt there was poop that wanted to come out, the poop came out now".
Reinforce that the child is already big and independent, that they lift by themselves, undress by themselves.
Check if the child has awareness of toileting needs? Do they report before or after, do they feel discomfort when the diaper is dirty? Do they use the bathroom at a fixed time? Do they hide in a specific place or stand in a fixed position?
If so, talk about it and raise their awareness.
"Every day after lunch you poop... Soon you'll learn to poop in the toilet, like us."
🟡 How to progress with the toilet training process for children on the autism spectrum?
When you want to start toilet training and the process is progressing, we'll move to a more precise monitoring stage.
Dryness checks 💦: Check the diaper and see how often it's wet, and essentially, if the child knows how to hold it. It's recommended to involve the child in this process.
Using a personalized social story for the child 📕: After we have information, we can prepare an important aid for the child, the social story.
A social story contains the child's picture and their personal toilet training characteristics.The social story provides visual and emotional support for the process, and can be repeated throughout the day.
It's recommended that the social story has a copy in every significant environment for the child. Home, kindergarten, etc.
The story describes the process and creates a more personal connection to the child.
The child becomes more involved and active, and the process is present not only during toileting.
Tracking sheets 🗓: These help parents document step by step and make decisions during the training.
✅ When the groundwork is ready, the child is aware that a change is coming soon, we know their habits, we've worked on independence and creating an emotional connection of the child to the process, we have aids for adults (tracking sheets) and aids for the child... we begin!
How exactly do we do this, what do we do with sudden constipation that appears? Why is he suddenly urinating every moment and not holding it? What do we do with absolute refusal to sit on the toilet?
We can elaborate in a personal meeting and tailor the process for each child.
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