Quote:
Originally Posted by Kreutz
Our almost five year old literally refuses to stop using diapers; since we lack the energy or patience (all attempts turn into screaming matches within thre minutes) to fight this, do they ever just grow out of it?
The cost of buying diapers is not a burden on us. However, its embarrassing and she can't go to day camp and stuff like that since toilet training is a requirement.
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At almost five, this has become a power struggle.
You do need to evaluate to see if s/he has sensory issues first. Often a child who trains late does have sensory issues and may need OT to help them get over these before they will train.
You child, however, doesn't sound like he has sensory issues, s/he sounds like s/he is having control issues with you. Rather than having screaming matches, I would suggest backing off for a short while entirely. Don't even mention the potty at all. After a few weeks, see what happens. If he has friends who are trained, have them over for playdates and remark on how they are *big boys* when they go in the toilet.
Peer pressure often works wonders for kids, especially if he wants to go to preschool or some other place that requires the kids to be trained.
You can then try various things - character underwear (the character does not like to be wet), a calendar countdown if he likes that, stickers if he enjoys them. Going in the toilet is basically his decision. It's his body and he can control it. For boys, sometimes having them aim at something like a cheerio in the toilet can be helpful too. Make sure he sees the adults in his life use the toilet too.
Also, try to give your child as much control as possible in other areas of life so that the control issues are not as prevalent. Give choices about as many things as possible and let your child choose what s/he wants to do. As silly as it sounds, you can even give a choice like *do you want to go inside using the back door or the front door?* or *when we go inside, do you want to play with your legos or with some playdough?* Kids who have choices are much more amenable to listening to you when they have to do so for safety reasons.
Good luck.
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