motivation

Apparently I was mistaken in thinking that after learning how to use the potty successfully more than 3 months ago, the whole idea of using the potty regularly would become second nature. 

Why do I think this way?

I guess the girls just need to have a "reason" to use the potty, and the reason isn't so they don't mess up their pants. They've become complacent and use the potty only when they feel like, peeing in their pants the rest of the time. 

The number of accidents has increased considerably in the last couple of weeks, whereas I thought by this time they would be virtually nonexistent. I'm constantly trying new things to motivate them to only go in the potty. Positive reinforcement hasn't been working. They already know we are proud of them for using the potty, so I guess they don't need to hear more praise. So I tried some different tactics...

1. If you have an accident, you have to go upstairs and get a new pair of underwear. I thought they would dislike doing this since it interrupted play time, but they don't care.
2. If you pee on the floor, you have to help me clean it up. They thought this was so cool and wanted to be the one to spray the Resolve on the floor. 
3. Since you have been having so many accidents, you can't sit on the couch anymore. OK, not a big deal.
4. I had bought these super ugly training pants that are so big and made of uncomfortable plastic so I had Little Pie wear them after her third accident in an hour. She thought they were so cool. Little Bird wanted a pair too.

Finally, since none of the above seemed to work, I wracked my brain for something else.

And then, the Potty Princess crown was born.

 

 

"I stayed dry all day!"

If I can get just one of them to be accident free for just one day, I'm happy.