We’re embarking on the ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) method of potty training. It’s been successful in helping children with developmental delays and autism learn to use the toilet. Because the ABA language therapy is working so well for Tucker, we’re hoping this does, too. We began the journey today, and plan to see it though over the next few days, the next few weeks, and hopefully, not the next few months.
Tucker has loved – on his terms – peeing, but only while standing up (such a boy!) at the potty for a while. A long while. Maybe even a typical while. However, sit him on that potty and it’s like Pennywise is in the bowl and he can’t get off soon enough.
The basic idea behind toilet training ABA-style is to make the bathroom a super fun place to be. Both at school and home, we set up a TV tray with Tucker’s favorite toys, his LeapFrog and the iPad (usually reserved for plane rides and long car trips). He pretty much stays in there all the time, day after day, until it “clicks” that he’s only supposed to pee and poop in the toilet. To train for the “click,” he stays in there until something (anything) happens. Even a few drops provides him with the reward of HUGE praise and congratulations from us and then getting to run around for five minutes. As his understanding and bladder control increase, we increase the time he’s out of the bathroom. We already began increasing his time to 15 minutes this evening. Progress, friends!
If there’s an accident outside of the bathroom, he has to pay the price, so to speak. If it’s in his pants, he has to take them off himself. If it’s on the floor, we tell him that pee only goes in the potty and he has to help clean it up.
Day one went pretty well, actually. It wasn’t until later in the day when he started to get tired, the iPad’s magic had faded and he’d spent a LOT of hours in the bathroom that he began to resist. In speaking with his teacher, it’s my understanding that at this point, we shouldn’t force him in there. It’s supposed to be a FUN potty party.
Wish us luck (please?).
One funny thing did happen today…part of our struggle with this boy has been pooping in the potty. After he does anything in there, ABA style (even a few drops), he gets to run for a bit. So the funny part was that after two seconds of being “free,” he went back into the bathroom, flushed the toilet, and said “poo potty” and then said “yay” and clapped his hands. Yup, I knew he was lying, but I clapped my hands anyway and celebrated that fake poo like a rockstar. Because the fact that he lied about pooping in the potty?? Huge, for several reasons. One, he LIED, which is awesome because it’s sortof typical 3-year old behavior and two, because he actually sortof kindof gets that he’s supposed to poop there, too…
If any autism/ASD or “I have no diagnosis” parents are reading this and want to share their potty stories, they’d be VERY much appreciated…
In the meantime, I’m cleaning up “wet!” “potty!” “mess!” like a champion.
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In an attempt to provide you with some ABA toilet training resources, I just did a Google search. Apparently, there are as many adaptations of this program as there are differences in the spectrum and none are exactly the same as what we’re doing. I’d be happy to share more info on the way Tucker’s teacher (and we via her guidelines) are approaching it for him.
Regarding the overall explanation of ABA therapy, I really like the one that Autism Web has.
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by Kristi Campbell
Joy - Thanks for the end note, I was just going to ask what ABA potty training is all about. Well, on our part there is nothing I can share because Sunny is not potty trained yet *sigh*. So best of luck and keep us posted on the process, would love to hear how it goes! Fingers crossed that he will have it figured out soon!
Anonther question: what exactly do they do in preschool with regard to ABA language training? You mentioned that it works and now I’m curious!January 8, 2013 – 2:43 am
admin - Hi Joy,
Thanks for the comment. I actually just edited this a lot as I wrote it really tired in about 10 minutes last night (and it was obvious). Good luck…it’s NOT easy for sure. Plus, our seven hour drive to see my in-laws usually requires about two stops for us. I’m pretty sure the next time we go, we’ll be stopping six or seven times. The joy of that, eh? But…we’ll save a ton of money on diapers!
Regarding your question on ABA language training…it’s not just for language, it’s for all behaviors, of which language is one. The basic idea is the teachers look at the “before,” then the behavior (good or bad) and then the “after” and analyze what is prompting the desired behavior (speech, for one) or the undesired behavior. One thing that they do like rockstars is make Tucker at least try to say a word for what he wants. He wants to play with the truck? He needs to ask for it. They do it over and over and over and over, until he does. If he doesn’t ask, he doesn’t get it (unless it’s food or water of course – they’re not mean). If the first time he only manages to say “tu,” they give it to him, give HUGE praises and then work on better pronunciation the next time. The idea is that eventually, the kids will say at least “twuck.” Tucker right now is almost there, but hasn’t quite mastered the “ck” on the end, it’s pretty garbled sounding.
This is a quote from autism web dot com (can’t use HTML in comments) but you should check out their site. “ABA assumes that children are more likely to repeat behaviors or responses that are rewarded (or “reinforced”), and they are less likely to continue behaviors that are not rewarded. Eventually, the reinforcement is reduced so that the child can learn without constant rewards.” I’ll include a link to it in the post.
Does that make sense? What do Sunny’s programs practice? A different type of therapy? I don’t know much about all of the options out there and only learned about ABA from Tucker’s teacher. It really seems to work for him though.January 8, 2013 – 11:06 am
Joy - Hey Kristi,
Thanks for your detailed reply! 🙂
As for the diapers we have a great solution here. If a child is older than three and still needs diapers (because of a disability or anything else other than having lazy parents who are not into potty training 😉 ) the paediatrician makes a prescription for diapers and then you get them for free. As long as your child needs them. Our insurance fully pays for our diapers. That is really a financial relief.
The ABA program sounds interesting. Although I think it would not work for Sunny. He does not imitate sounds. He does not try to repeat what anyone says. New words or sounds only come from himself and not from what we try to teach him. So I guess he would become pretty frustrated with that method.
Sunny attends a special ed kindergarten and I do not think that they use certain programs there. Every child is fostered and stimulated in the way that s/he needs it. The children there are so very different that there is no program that fits them all. They use some things from the TEACCH program for Sunny, at least that is what they told me, but not in the extent that is explained on wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treatment_and_Education_of_Autistic_and_Related_Communication_Handicapped_Children).
xoxo JoyJanuary 8, 2013 – 2:25 pm
admin - Hey Joy, based on what you’ve said, it doesn’t seem like ABA is the best for Sunny, you’re right. It doesn’t work for everybody, but it really works for Tucker. We’re lucky that he wants to please people – not all kids like him do. I think that’s why it works for him. I’ll have to look into the TEACCH program. I’m interested in reading how it’s different. I have to go pick Tucker up from school now and then sit in the bathroom for the next several hours so I won’t be able to until later this evening. Thanks so much for the comment and the information!January 8, 2013 – 3:21 pm
Joy - Hope the potty training was successful! xoJanuary 9, 2013 – 3:30 am
Emily - Sounds like he’s doing great on the potty (and you’re right the lying is huge!). He also sounds like he’s a super fast learner so I’m betting he’ll be wearing big boy underwear full-time pretty soon…January 8, 2013 – 1:27 pm
admin - Thanks, Emily! Right now, he’s refusing underwear so he’s commando in his sweats. I’m okay with that (as in choosing my battles). 🙂 And I so hope you’re right!January 8, 2013 – 1:29 pm
Stephanie @ Mommy, for real. - Good luck mama! 1- cutest picture ever; 2- I had bad dreams about Pennywise forever; 3- lying is SUCH a typical 3 year old thing- hooray! and 4- potty-training sucks and pooping always seems to come later than peeing…
You’ll get there!January 8, 2013 – 3:29 pm
admin - Stephanie! Thanks so very much for the Pennywise confirmation. How many years ago did I read this and STILL think about him in every storm drain that I pass?? Say what you will about Mr. King, but that’s some powerful shiza! Thanks so much for the encouragement, too! <3 And yup pretty happy with that lying shit. About shit. ;)January 8, 2013 – 10:21 pm
Courtney - It will happen, just keep being the champ you are and eventually it will click. Toilet training was traumatic for all of us, but by 4, he had pee and poop down. He still has a bit of a phobia, but it’s all good. Hang in there! I know the future feels so far away, but it will be here sooner than you think. 🙂January 8, 2013 – 9:44 pm
admin - Oh my gosh, Courtney, your encouragement couldn’t have come at a better time. While yesterday was a pretty good success, today involved multiple accidents and one that led to me having to shower WITH the boy, a a bath might have been too nasty…if you catch my drift….
Thanks huge for the comment and the encouragement! Hugs to YOU, too…January 8, 2013 – 9:55 pm
Misty @ Meet the Cottons - there was a time when i thought we’d never grow out of needing pullups! i completely attribute patty’s potty training to the pullups commercial w/ the Potty Dance song on it. i don’t know if that commercial still runs, but it’d be worthy trying to find on youtube! it went something like….do the -clap,clap- potty dance….hmmm, maybe she thought they were saying patty dance?! good luck on your potty adventures!January 14, 2013 – 3:28 pm
admin - Oh my gosh, I SO know the POTTY DANCE and do it all the f-ing blech time. Tucker does it too, now! Well, sort of. He says “Potty!” “Me!” and then dances around and claps his hands. And I’m totally convinced that Patty heard the words “Patty dance!” I mean, who wouldn’t? 😉January 15, 2013 – 12:24 am