TinyStepper
Brown-haired girl crouching outdoors drawing chalk suns and flowers on pavement

Potty Poster Painting

Paint a special poster about the potty routine together, giving your child ownership and pride in their toileting journey.

Activity details

2y–4y20 minsmediumbothConstruction PaperCrayonsPaintbrushesStickersWashable Paint

Instructions

Get ready
  • Lay out a large piece of construction paper, washable paints, crayons, and stickers on a protected surface.
  • Say 'We're going to make YOUR special potty poster — you're in charge of how it looks.'
  1. Lay out a large piece of construction paper, washable paints, crayons, and stickers on a protected surface.
  2. Say 'We're going to make YOUR special potty poster — you're in charge of how it looks.'
  3. Talk through the potty steps together: 'First we walk to the bathroom, then we sit down, then we try, then we wash our hands.'
  4. Help your child paint or draw a simple picture for each step — stick figures, blobs of colour, or handprints all count.
  5. Add stickers for decoration, and write your child's name at the top in big letters.
  6. Let your child add their own marks freely — the messier and more personal, the more ownership they feel.
  7. Once dry, walk to the bathroom together and let your child choose where to hang their poster.
  8. Each time you visit the potty, point to the poster: 'Look, there's YOUR poster — you made that!'

Parent tip

Set out construction paper and crayons before inviting your toddler in so the first minute feels smooth.

Proud child holding up a painted sheet covered in bright handprints and splatters

What success looks like

Messy hands and a child who doesn’t want to stop. The artwork doesn’t need to look like anything — the process is the point.

Resistance often grows when toddlers feel that potty training is something being done to them rather than with them. This creative activity puts your child in charge by making a poster that celebrates their potty routine — they choose the colours, add stickers, and help decide what goes on it. The act of creating something visible and permanent transforms the potty from a source of conflict into a source of pride, and hanging the poster in the bathroom provides a visual cue that reinforces the routine every day.

Why it helps

Self-determination theory shows that autonomy is a fundamental human need — even in toddlers. When children feel ownership over a process, their intrinsic motivation increases and resistance decreases. The poster also serves as a visual schedule, which supports executive function by making the sequence of steps predictable. Visual supports are recommended by speech and language therapists and early years practitioners as a way to reduce anxiety around transitions and routines. The EYFS Expressive Arts and Design goals encourage open-ended creative activities where children can explore materials and express ideas without needing a fixed outcome.

Variations

  • Use magazine cut-outs instead of painting — let your child tear and stick pictures of things they associate with the bathroom.
  • Add a small 'progress' section where your child puts a sticker on the poster each time they sit on the potty willingly.
  • For older toddlers, include a self-portrait on the poster: 'Draw yourself looking proud on your potty!'

Safety tips

  • Use only washable, non-toxic paints and ensure your child doesn't put painted hands in their mouth.
  • Supervise sticker use with younger toddlers, as small stickers can be a choking hazard.
  • Hang the poster securely using painter's tape rather than pins or tacks in the bathroom.

Want to try another?

Potty Progress Path

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