Please help with more ideas to potty train autistic 5 year olds...?

Question

I have two 5 year old high functioning autistic spectrum boys, and we have been working on potty training for a loooong time. While they were enrolled in the PPCD classroom they were taken to the potty often but kept in diapers. Now at home (and home schooled) they wear underwear except for bedtime, I take them potty often, we have sticker charts and candies and lots of praise celebrations for going potty in the potty. However, they are just as content to potty in their underwear, and are only now starting to occasionally go to the potty on their own. I have two older children who I potty trained without too much trouble. I have a three year old who I have also started training... and who sometimes is more successful than my 5 year olds. I am sure they will be successfully using the potty before they "graduate", but sooner would be much better than later!

Thank you everyone. Thank you for the encouragement. I'm NOT the only one. I really appreciate eveyone's bit's of insight from their experiences, you have all helped a lot. Blasters, thank you for explaining primary and secondary reinforcers.

Answer 1

you can train someone if they are not "ready". It's just a matter of constructing the right program... In general, YES... you should get rid of diapers. Also, in order to train, you have to set up opportunities for success. In other words, give your child frequent drinks throughout the day so that you increase their opportunites to learn.

Any time they appear to have to use the toilet (e.g., squatting, holding themselves), bring them to the bathroom and sit them down or have them go... If they go at all, even if you bring them, reward/reinforce them immediately (not with a sticker) but with a primary reinforcer (e.g., snack, praise).

The idea behind this is that you have to teach them the contingency (i.e., pee goes in the toilet, they get preferred item). Once they understand that, you can start to fade your program to a more reasonable schedule and reinforcement system. For example, you would fade your prompts at first. At first you would physically move them to the bathroom, then you would tell them, the you might gesture, and finally wait for independence.

You can then fade the reinforcement program... They would earn for each response, then every 2, 3, until they are dry for an entire day. Also, you would then consider using tokens and delaying the primary reinforcer until the end of the week or something.**

** Many people use token inappropriately. Tokens, in themselves, are not reinforcing (they are called secondary reinforcers). You have to put meaning behind them first, or train them up before you arbitrarily put tokens in place... like pairing them with a primary reinforcer (described above).

Answer 2

A short training video "Potty Potty" with book was a big help. We borrowed it from the library. There is a boy and a girl version.

Our 4-1/2 year old grand-daughter stayed with us five days. She wore only a shirt and light training pants. NO diapers. She needed to be able to sense the wetness when she peed. She first had to get over the fear of sitting on the potty. She started her day by seeing the video.

We placed her on the potty before and after all meal and snack times. Whether or not she was successful at peeing in the potty, she viewed the video again. If successful, there was lots of praise and rejoicing and singing along with the movie. If unsuccessful we waited 20-30 minutes and had her try again in the potty. While sitting on the potty we sang the "Potty Potty" song. We also made /ssssss/ sounds to coach her to pee.

If she wet her pants, she sat on the potty again to try to finish up. Give her lots of reassurance that she make it another time. We would show the video again.

We tried to make sure she got enough fluids and again, timed going to the potty accordingly so she would associate the urge with the potty.

By the end of five days, she peed in the potty about 75% of the time.

Answer 3

I knew someone with an autistic child and he said they had to let their son go without underwear/diapers/anything for a couple of weeks (he said it was pretty hard since they couldn't take him anywhere during this time) because their son thought if he had anything on (underwear or diaper) it was a diaper and he could go potty in them. He's a pretty high functioning autistic boy too (in fact i wouldn't have even known if I hadn't been told he was autistic). Don't know if this will help you but their son is about 4 and he's potty trained now.

Answer 4

My autistic daughter is 7. We started potty training at 4 and she didn't "get it" for one full year. One awful, long, messy year.

All her ABA therapists kept saying to stick to the reinforcer/sticker charts/hooray, hooray plan, but it did NOT work for her. She couldn't have cared less if we were pleased she went on the potty, and she didn't care enough about the reenforcers to do it for them. We tried every reenforcer under the sun, believe me.

What finally worked for her was giving her a little more independence to make the decision on her own. She HATED being taken to the potty on a schedule. The more we pushed, the more she resisted.

The best approach for us was to find an icon for her and put it where it's always close at hand. Around their neck, on their belt, where ever. Then whenever they fiddle with it, touch it or in anyway handle it you take them to the bathroom. Eventually they understand that the icon means, "Take me to the bathroom...NOW!"

My daughter needed a little less structure, not more. All the ABA people told me I was wrong, but in the end I turned out to know my daughter best. Go with your gut and good luck!

Answer 5

My son has Asperger's Syndrome. He is now 16, but I remember the potty training frustrations well. One day my son just "got it." He was 5 years old as well. Maybe you could give them a reward to work towards, using the sticker charts. Pick a special reward and set a number of stickers they have to earn to get the reward. Or maybe pick the reward and say they have to earn X stickers to get it, and only award stickers for a full day of going in the potty. I think if you continue to do what you are doing, they will get there.

Answer 6

You are on the right track!!! Don't give up, and the praise/ sticker chaarts are a great idea. i am glad u homeschool, I did too, for a long time but my kids have marked learning disabilities, so I can't, by state law. I am proud of u! I think U are doing great. Remember, we autistics, don't like change, and comfortable in no-change environment, but kids will be kids! Each kids developes at their own pace, and maybe the 3 yr old will be trained b4 the others. At least they are high-spectrum, and not severly autistic. You got that part going for u. Take your time, and enjoy them at home. At least they are not near strangers.

Answer 7

Keep doing what you are doing..repetitiveness is great for teaching children with autism.and since they are starting to use it on their own, I would stick with it. Especially since kids with autism don't like changes you may be starting back from square one if you change your approach now. I am in the process of doing the same thing with my autistic son, these are some of the suggestions I have received from his psychologist. I know this may sound funny..but when the 3 yr old uses the potty let the 5 yr olds watch provided the 3 yr old is a boy too, they can also learn by observing others doing what you are trying to teach them. If you have a video camera, try to record it when one of them uses the potty on their own and play it over and over back to them on the tv. My son is drawn to the tv, and to see himself on tv use the potty has helped him a lot. Appraising them when they do use it or attempt to use is a big factor too.

If you check into a local Center for Autism and Related Diseases(CARD), you would have to get your son's into their database, but they do offer free potty training classes for parents of childern with autism. They offer many other helpful classes as well for free. They will come to your house also and work with you on techniques to use with your childern, but you must attend an orientation first. Those services are provided for free as well. I have listed a link below, but when you check the office locations, do not get discouraged if you do not see one in your area..that does not mean there is not one in your local area. They don't have any offices listed in Florida but yet there are 7 or 8 CARD centers throughout the state at universities.

You may want to check into a local Autism Society chapter. Since it is ran by parents and professionals in the area of autism, it can be a great place for resources such as this. Granted what works for one child with autism may not work with all, but I bet you'd get some great ideas.

Good Luck =)

Answer 8

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Answer 9

This is a really tough job, one I wouldn't ever want to do again. My stepson was the same way (now 22), sometimes they just aren't "ready". We didn't have much daytime success until he was 7--the wet and poopy feel just didn't bother him and he couldn't tell when he needed to go. This is weird, but are there any bowel/constipation problems? Sometimes with boys, if there is too much in there they will start wetting at odd times. (according to our urologist)

Do your boys like games or being overly silly? Toss a handful of the berry cherrio's in the toilet and see who can "shoot the most down". Gross, but all of my boys liked that!

Hang in there--now that it sometimes clicks, they'l get the hang of it. Keep to a schedule, it helps our kids remember that they need to go, even when they don't think they do.

Answer 10

Sorry, I know that is a lot to deal with. I think you are already doing everything right and that through repition, they will learn. You can try letting them sit in their mess for a while. It is really uncomfortable and gives a good reason for them to go to the potty next time.