Potty Tots Review and Giveaway

Now that “Bug” is well into his 3rd year, it is time to get this boy out of diapers/Pull-Ups for good right? We have been trying to get him potty trained since he was about 18 months with very little progress made. Recently I was introduced to a wonderful program called Potty Tots! What is Potty Tots you may be asking yourself….well it’s a super fun and creative way to help toddlers start using the potty and help build their self-esteem all at the same time! When we were offered the chance to review one of these kits, I was quick to say of course and could not wait to get “Bug” started on this program!

About Potty Tots (taken from website):

Potty Tots was an idea born of necessity.

My name is Jill Leech and I am, first and foremost, a mother of three children, Ricky, Emily and Shannon. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a teaching credential in Social Sciences. Even with all of this experience with children, I found myself at a loss for potty training my youngest child.

When my husband and I adopted Shannon, our third child, from China we attended parenting classes to deal with some of the behaviors she was exhibiting. In these classes we learned that children who have been diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder, Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Pervasive Development Disorder, or labeled as “strong willed,” really need structure to feel secure. They also need a lot of visuals and specific programs to follow with positive and tangible rewards.

I know that ALL children can benefit from various learning styles, structure and positive reinforcement. So I set out to find a potty training program that would not only show my daughter how to go potty, but would also engage her in the potty training process and encourage her to be independent and “Do” for herself.

As a teacher, my favorite motto for my students is,

“When I hear, I forget,
When I see, I remember,
When I DO, I understand.”

I believe all children can benefit from this philosophy of learning. From my experience, it is also SO important to make learning FUN! Children who are involved in their own learning and having fun are much more likely to be motivated, and successful.

When I was having trouble finding a program like this, I decided to make my daughter an illustrated potty chart of her very own. She loved it! She was motivated to follow the steps because she could see what was expected of her. She loved that the little girl on the chart looked just like her! She felt independent and had a sense of pride when she accomplished these tasks.

Independence and pride are the keys to building a healthy self-esteem. I could tell she was well on her way when she proclaimed, “I can do it, all by myself!” This common little phrase among toddlers would become our motto for Potty Tots. I shared these charts and schedule cards with the instructor of my parenting class, who in turn, shared them with other parents in her program.

That was the “Aha!” moment for me.

I realized this type of product was missing from the market today. With encouragement and creative input from my sister, Jenny Le Blanc, also an educator and mother of three, we added all of the ingredients that make a great learning experience for children.

With the help of an amazingly talented illustrator Jennifer Carlson Ware, an awesome animator, Linda Spain and the musical mastery of Greg Wilson, the Potty Tots came to life!

We started with a story that the kids could relate to, with adorable multi-ethnic characters.

Next, we animated the story on a DVD so that young children could follow along with the story.

We mixed in a little Rock music and the Potty Song to help the kids sing and dance their way to remembering the steps to potty training.
We added a variety of illustrated potty charts, where the kids could choose their own Potty Tot or pal to help them with potty training.
And of course, a pinch of potty humor!

Any successful program must also have a way for the kids to keep track of their progress and positive reinforcement (praise and rewards). Fashioned after the Super Bowl, we created a “Toilet Bowl” football inspired progress chart/game with clings of the Potty Tots.

With the idea that potty training could and should be FUN, the Potty Tots Potty Training Program was born! (Try saying that three times fast!)

Our Thoughts:

 Jill kindly sent us the boys version of the Potty Training Kit, which included: a letter addressed to “Bug”, a super cute story/guide book, a DVD with three adorable Potty Tots songs and their two music videos, a toilet bowl progress reward game with clings, and an illustrated potty chart. Once our training kit arrived, we decided to put it to work immediately and have been using it daily for the past few months. “Bug” seemed excited when the kit arrived, but up until then he didn’t seem to have any interest what-so-ever in potty training.

Now just to start with, we had tried may different types of reward programs, games, and other types of potty training methods but non seemed to work so this was really a last hope for our family. As many of you know we are wanting to have another baby but we want to make sure “Bug” is out of diapers/Pull-Ups.

The very next morning we popped in the DVD for “Bug” to watch and he really enjoyed it. It didn’t take him watching the DVD many times before he was caught singing the “potty songs” while he was playing in his room. We also immediately started working with “Bug” using the potty chart and progress/reward game. The game is probably “Bug’s” favorite part of the entire kit. It seems like there are times now he needs to “go potty” even when he don’t really just so he can give his player another “down”.

My favorite part of this training kit is the illustrated potty chart that gives “Bug” visuals on the step-by-step process of using the potty. Although the fact that he is actually making huge progress since we started using the kit is my absolute favorite. I also love the Potty Tots website, it is so full of useful information on the creators, stories about the Potty Tot characters, fun coloring pages for “Bug” and of course the Potty Tots Rock song!

We have now been using the Potty Tots for a few months now and we have gotten wonderful results. I’m so impressed by the way “Bug” took to this program and the fact that the characters are relatable to him. I am proud to say that we are now out of Pull-Ups during the day, we still wear one at night but now he refuses to wear one during the day…he wants his big boy underwear. Thank you so much Jill, I was beginning to think that he was never going to get interested in potty training.

Bottom Line:
We love Potty Tots and we highly recommend this super fun and highly effective program to any parents looking for a fun way to get their children interested in using the potty! I can’t stress enough how much this program has changed the course of our potty training.

Buy It:
To purchase the Potty Tots Potty Training Kit mentioned above in boys or girls visit the Potty Tots website!

Win It:
Jill was kind enough to offer one of my lucky readers a Potty Tots Training Kit in their choice of either boys or girls. (Continental US Only)

Mandatory Entry: Visit Potty Tots and tell me what kit you would like and a piece of information you learnt! Please remember to leave your e-mail address if it’s not visible in your profile.

Want or need extra entries? Check out how to grab em’ below! (Mandatory Entry must be complete for these to count)

1. Become a public follower of my blog (2 extra)

2. Follow me on twitter @sgrant2005 and tweet this giveaway (can be done daily)

3. Subscribe to my feed via a reader

4. Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and to Potty Tots be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

5. “Like” Potty Tots on Facebook

6. Follow Potty Tots on Twitter

Giveaway ends May 15, 2011 @ midnight CST. Winner will be chosen at random, using random.org and contacted by e-mail and has 48 hrs to respond before a new winner is chosen.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion with the product listed above. I did receive the Potty Training Kit mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.