It’s potty time at our house. We’ve been potty training since December when my son started to show readiness signs. He was just over 2.5 years old. Since potty training is ON at our house, it’s become a funny topic in our playtime at home. Guess who is also learning how to go potty in our house? Yes! It’s T. Rex.
“Potty Time” with T. Rex is great for talking about how to go potty as this helps support my son’s overall language development in the following ways:
- My son learns how to sequence an event using first, next and last.
As we talk about each step in the process, my son listens to me model each step. He then can start to reenact the scenario during the play session with my scaffolding (i.e. breaking down each step). During subsequent play sessions, I might ask questions such as, “What does T. Rex do first?” “Then, what happens next?” “And what does he need to do last?” As he becomes more independent in his ability to explain each step, I fade out my modeling and let him tell me the steps. I’ve noticed that he enjoys talking about potty time and will often bring it up during play sessions with T. Rex. This is great because it shows that he is motivated about potty time and I get to follow his lead!
2. Sentence Structure: My son and I go through each step within a play-based scenario. This supports his understanding of subject-verb-object sentence structures as well as third person singular -s (i.e. T. Rex uses the potty), present progressive -ing (T. Rex is using the potty), and past-tense -ed (T. Rex used the potty).
3. Vocabulary: My son is learning all of the thematic words that go along with potty training and is applying them within a play-based scenario. He is learning how to use the following words: potty, toilet, flush, wash/dry, towel, etc. He’s learning to combine these vocabulary words together in a sentence to establish clear meaning in his communication abilities.
4. Engagement: One of the most important aspects of play is the ability for children to learn how to engage in conversation with others. Play helps my son reciprocate in conversation with turn-taking, initiating topics, asking/answering questions, reciprocal eye contact, and the ability to express shared enjoyment in the interaction.
Here is what we use for our Potty Time Script:
1. Any old T. Rex dinosaur (or child’s favorite toy)
2. Modeling dough
3. Small container for the toilet (modeling dough for toilet handle)
4. Second Small container for the sink (filled with water)
5. Hand towel
Have a fun potty time play scenario to add? I’d love to hear it! Post below in the comments to continue the conversation.