It can be one of the most frustrating parts of potty-training: just when you think you have it all under control and moving along, your child starts to regress, has accidents or even starts to demand a diaper again! This episode of The Real Parenting Show with Dr. Pete & Sara takes you through the entire process to help you understand regression, deal with it and start moving forward again.

Regression is often a completely normal reaction by your child. Some of the causes of regression are:

• Stressful events (might create general fear, anxiety and/or opens back up some older fears specific to potty)
• Losing focus after mastering a skill (no longer a priority – too involved in new things)
• Physical issue (UTI, bout of diarrhea, constipation or other things – check with doctor)
• Experience of shame or humiliation (perhaps secondary to an accident)
• Skill not yet really mastered – parent loses focus, assumes too much skill

So what’s a parent to do about it? First, says Dr. Pete, is to refocus on the tried and true strategies you’d used when first potty training your son or daughter – positive attention and prompting. You can start incorporate some relaxation methods into your routine, like reading a book or listening to music in the bathroom, and make sure your child experiences the natural consequences of an accident (having to clean up) without punishment. You may think it’s all about your child having a stubborn streak, but getting into a power struggle with your child about going on the potty is a battle you will not win.

Lastly, says Dr. Pete, don’t go back to diapers! Why? Download the show now and find out!

Remember, even though you may not always feel like it, you are the most influential person in your child’s life! If you have any questions or topics you’d like to suggest for future shows, please comment on this blog or call 877.980.2828. Click below to listen to all of Dr. Pete’s straightforward advice and practical tips for real parents raising real kids in the real world, and we hope you’ll subscribe to get our podcast each week.

Dr. Pete and Sara are also the co-authors of Stress-Free Potty Training, A Commonsense Guide To Finding The Right Approach For Your Child (AMACOM Books, 2008). We include an entire chapter on potty training sensitive children who may be regressing.

Please note that nothing on The Real Parenting Show should be construed as professional psychological advice specific to you or your child. If you have concerns for anyone in your family, it’s important to make an appointment with a licensed mental health professional in your local area.

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This week on The Real Parenting Show With Dr. Pete & Sara, whether it’s trick-or-treating by themselves or going to the mall or movies with friends the day after Thanksgiving, the holidays always seem to be the time of year when kids want to start doing things more independently. But how can a parent decide if their child is ready for this?

Dr. Pete weighs in with his always insightful tips to help you make that decision, and he says it’s not all based on their age.  Whether they are ten or 15, you must first consider what kind of child yours is and what his or her track record is for responsible behavior.  Dr. Pete goes over the various kinds of temperaments and has some specific tips for parents of those risk-taker type of kid. He also offers up ways to deal with the situation when you trust your child and he or she does not live up to the responsibility.

Download The Real Parenting Show with Dr. Pete & Sara now and remember, even though you may not always feel like it, you are the most influential person in your child’s life! If you have any questions or topics you’d like to suggest for future shows, please comment on this blog or call 877.980.2828. Click below to listen to all of Dr. Pete’s straightforward advice and practical tips for real parents raising real kids in the real world, and we hope you’ll subscribe to get our podcast each week.

Dr. Pete and Sara are also the co-authors of Stress-Free Potty Training, A Commonsense Guide To Finding The Right Approach For Your Child (AMACOM Books, 2008). We include an entire chapter on potty training sensitive children who may exhibit shyness. Check out our website, www.StressFreePottyTraining.com, for more information.

Please note that nothing on The Real Parenting Show should be construed as professional psychological advice specific to you or your child. If you have concerns for anyone in your family, it’s important to make an appointment with a licensed mental health professional in your local area.

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Taking out the trash, feeding the dog, cleaning their rooms… there’s no end to the list of household chores parents ask their child to do, but how do you actually get them to do these chores? This episode of The Real Parenting Show with Dr. Pete & Sara tackles this age-old question.

Regardless of what chores you decide to assign to your child (and we have some suggestions, of course!), parents need to start by making sure the chore is appropriate to your child’s age, that you explain exactly how you want your child to do it, and that both you and they are clear on what consequences there are, if any, for not completing a chore.

This show is a must-listen for parents with kids of any age, as it’s chock full of tips to help make your family routine run more smoothly!

Download The Real Parenting Show with Dr. Pete & Sara now and remember, even though you may not always feel like it, you are the most influential person in your child’s life! If you have any questions or topics you’d like to suggest for future shows, please comment on this blog or call 877.980.2828. Click below to listen to all of Dr. Pete’s straightforward advice and practical tips for real parents raising real kids in the real world, and we hope you’ll subscribe to get our podcast each week.

Dr. Pete and Sara are also the co-authors of Stress-Free Potty Training, A Commonsense Guide To Finding The Right Approach For Your Child (AMACOM Books, 2008). We include an entire chapter on potty training sensitive children who may exhibit shyness. Check out our website, www.StressFreePottyTraining.com, for more information.

Please note that nothing on The Real Parenting Show should be construed as professional psychological advice specific to you or your child. If you have concerns for anyone in your family, it’s important to make an appointment with a licensed mental health professional in your local area.

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On this episode of The Real Parenting Show with Dr. Pete & Sara, we’re talking about the challenges of raising kids when you are over the “normal” age of most other parents. Now, that word is in quotes because there is no real “normal” age for anything in parenting, just like with kids, and the average age of parents has broadened greatly in recent years. But, for those parents whose kids were  born after they were 40-ish years old, there are a number of societal, psychological, physical and even medical issues with which you are going to have to deal.

We’ve enlisted the help of Robin Gorman Newman, founder of MotherhoodLater.com and a relationship expert. She started her online community to support parents, like herself, who were parenting at a later age from many of the other parents they see on the playground!

Robin shares her experience, as well as those of many of her members, and gives tips for other parents who may be facing a variety of challenges. From additional pre-natal testings that can bring up difficult emotional choices, to the unkind comments of strangers who may jump to the grandparent conclusion, to the sheer physicality of chasing a toddler when arthritis is acting up! Robin is a fantastic interview, full of intensity, compassion, humor and intelligence.

Download The Real Parenting Show with Dr. Pete & Sara now and remember, even though you may not always feel like it, you are the most influential person in your child’s life! If you have any questions or topics you’d like to suggest for future shows, please comment on this blog or call 877.980.2828. Click below to listen to all of Dr. Pete’s straightforward advice and practical tips for real parents raising real kids in the real world, and we hope you’ll subscribe to get our podcast each week.

Dr. Pete and Sara are also the co-authors of Stress-Free Potty Training, A Commonsense Guide To Finding The Right Approach For Your Child (AMACOM Books, 2008). We include an entire chapter on potty training sensitive children who may exhibit shyness. Check out our website, www.StressFreePottyTraining.com, for more information.

Please note that nothing on The Real Parenting Show should be construed as professional psychological advice specific to you or your child. If you have concerns for anyone in your family, it’s important to make an appointment with a licensed mental health professional in your local area.

Listen Now