Ready, Set, Go!

May 15, 2018

Blogger Ockwell-Smith (SarahOckwell-Smith.com) is read by two million parents each year. As a prenatal teacher, birth and postnatal doula, cofounder of GentleParenting.com, and mother of four, the author provides tips for potty training. In the first chapter, bringing her gentle approach to a developmental milestone, she devotes attention to the physiological factors involved in potty training and how to know when your child is ready. The decision can only be made by your child, advises the author. As the text continues, she provides suggestions on how to begin and answers questions, such as do pull ups contribute to a mixed message that slows the process? And are girls usually ready to potty train before boys? She disagrees with the common carrot-dangling reward method, preferring a more mindful technique using effort-based praise and dealing with emotions involved in the act itself. Nighttime training is a common struggle for parents, and the author dedicates an entire section to solving evening potty woes. The last chapter contains common questions parents ask, and helpful recommendations of books and videos for children fill the appendix. VERDICT There is little new here, but potty training is of perennial interest to parents, and newbies may find this a solid starter manual.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 21, 2018
Parenting expert Ockwell-Smith (Gentle Discipline) presents a practical, reassuring plan for toilet training based on four major components: teamwork, compassion, being informed, and offering no rewards. She begins by dispelling myths (for instance, it’s not true that girls are ready before boys) and examining the physiological and behavioral signs of “readiness” (one indicator, for instance, may be that the child’s diaper remains dry for two or more hours, indicating increasing bladder capacity). She then lays out her plan, advising that parents set aside a minimum of three to seven days to devote to the initial stage; during the first three, the parent or caregiver stays home with the child, supporting his or her learning process (rewards such as stickers or treats, she claims, are not necessary or desirable if a child is truly ready). In fact, Ockwell-Smith asserts, there is no “perfect time” to begin: put “convenience aside” and take the child’s lead. She covers all the basics: choosing a toilet (no frills is best), dealing with accidents, nighttime training, and more, and also includes a helpful question-and-answer section addressing common problems. Herself the mother of four, Ockwell-Smith has a gentle tone and commonsense approach that will assist parents facing this exciting but frequently anxiety-laden transition with their child.

July 1, 2018

Blogger Ockwell-Smith (SarahOckwell-Smith.com) is read by two million parents each year. As a prenatal teacher, birth and postnatal doula, cofounder of GentleParenting.com, and mother of four, the author provides tips for potty training. In the first chapter, bringing her gentle approach to a developmental milestone, she devotes attention to the physiological factors involved in potty training and how to know when your child is ready. The decision can only be made by your child, advises the author. As the text continues, she provides suggestions on how to begin and answers questions, such as do pull-ups contribute to a mixed message that slows the process? And are girls usually ready to potty train before boys? She disagrees with the common carrot-dangling reward method, preferring a more mindful technique using effort-based praise and dealing with emotions involved in the act itself. Nighttime training is a common struggle for parents, and the author dedicates an entire section to solving evening potty woes. The last chapter contains common questions parents ask, and helpful recommendations of books and videos for children fill the appendix. VERDICT There is little new here, but potty training is of perennial interest to parents, and newbies may find this a solid starter manual.-Julia M. Reffner, North Chesterfield, VA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.