Toilet Training Toddlers and Preschoolers

The investigators are interested in determining those procedures that prove to be most efficient and effective in facilitating continence (i.e., "dry pants" or the absence of soiled undergarments), appropriate eliminations (i.e., voids/stools in toilet), and independent requests/initiations to use the toilet. To assess the effectiveness of toilet training methods (procedures), data on toileting skills (in addition to each skill in a given child's curriculum) are collected across the school day (7:30 am-5:45 pm) by the classroom teachers. The primary dependent variables (toileting skills) are continence (i.e., absence of soiled undergarments), appropriate eliminations (i.e., the number of voids/stools made in the toilet), and independent/self requests (i.e., communication by the child with an adult to use the toilet). The toileting procedures are implemented by classroom teachers (undergraduate practicum students) and implementation is monitored by classroom supervisors (graduate teaching assistants). Procedural effectiveness is evaluated on a daily basis by the graduate teaching assistants and on an at-least-weekly basis by faculty supervisors.