How to Teach Your Kid to Wipe
Convey good hygiene by teaching your young child how to clean up after using the toilet.
Up next in Toddler Training (7 videos)
Get your child through the terrible two's -- and three's, four's, and five's -- with these Howcast toddler training videos.
You Will Need
- A toilet-trained child
- Toilet paper
- Wet wipes
- Patience
Steps
-
Step 1
Start with an example
Assist the child with wiping thoroughly after they use the toilet.
-
Step 2
Grab some toilet paper
Show the child that they should reach for toilet paper and wipe themselves immediately after going.
-
Step 3
Supply wet wipes
Supply wet wipes to make clean-up easier for your child.
-
Cut the wipes into smaller squares to avoid going through too many.
-
Step 4
Teach girls to wipe front-to-back
Teach a girl to wipe from front to back after peeing to decrease the possibility of spreading bacteria.
-
Step 5
Encourage gradual independence
Allow your child to wipe independently once you believe they have learned how to do so properly.
-
Give another wiping lesson if you find traces in your child's underwear that show they are not cleaning themselves properly.
-
Step 6
Complete the lesson
Finish wiping lessons by stressing the importance of hand washing. Wash your child's hands to show how it is done, and then allow the child to wash their own hands.
-
Step 7
Praise your child
Praise your child when they wipe well and wash up afterward. With patience and consistency, your child will be a pro at using the toilet before you know it.
-
According to Sigmund Freud, bowel control is connected to other forms of self-control, such as cleanliness and orderliness.
