That Autism Mom
We have covered the whole issue of potty or toilet training for children on the autism spectrum. Check them out here and here.
But this video from That Autism Mom is excellent!
For more information on social stories please have a look at Trisha Katkin’s site here.
I think you’re spot-on with the practicing and walking through the skill. We used to set a time, 8 pm every night, sit for 5 minutes. Because of hyperfocus, it’s hard for us to transition to start something and to stop something. Why do autistic children and adults sometimes struggle with making it to the bathroom on time? Interoception. This is the ability to sense what is going on inside our bodies. As with most autistic traits, we either sense too much or not enough. Many autistic people, including adults, often don’t pick up the information that their bladder or bowels are full until it’s the very last minute or too late. I put myself on an every-3-hour schedule. (My kids and I also don’t notice we’re hungry or thirsty. We’ve been on an every-3-hour eating schedule since, well, their birth!) My son did #2 in his underwear until about age 9 or 10. You can’t rush it. It’s not under your child’s control. I would try to respect his privacy as much as possible, teach him self-sufficiency and how to clean up after himself, and just wait patiently. Keep the clean sheets stacked next to his bed and let him help to do the laundry as much as he can himself. That’ll give him something to be proud of and to please you. My kids are both teens now and STILL drop everything and run to the bathroom, often just as I’m setting dinner on the table. * For more on interoception, check out this website: https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/sensory-processing-issues/interoception-and-sensory-processing-issues-what-you-need-to-know
*All teens regress. My little elementary school-age laundry helpers turned into teenagers who now leave their dirty clothes on the floor. 😀
Please can someone help me find some tips on potty training. I have a 5 year old grandson who lives with me and he is not potty trained I have tried to no avail. I need help !!! Yes he is autistic and yes he goes to aba therapy. But they won’t even help. So I really would appreciate it if someone could steer me in the right direction thank you !! From a tired Grandma