Best for this moment
when your toddler needs focused engagement, especially when you need something flexible indoors or outdoors.
Potty Poster Painting
At a glance: Paint a special poster about the potty routine together, giving your child ownership and pride in their toileting journey. A 20-minute, medium-energy both activity for ages 2y–4y.
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.
Parent tip
Set out construction paper and crayons before inviting your toddler in so the first minute feels smooth.
What success looks like
A good outcome is a few minutes of engaged play, some back-and-forth with you, and a small sign of progress in creativity.
More help for this situation
Screen-time alternatives
Screen time
Swap the screen for hands-on play that holds attention just as well — no charging required.
Read the screen time guideInstructions
- 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.'
- Talk through the potty steps together: 'First we walk to the bathroom, then we sit down, then we try, then we wash our hands.'
- Help your child paint or draw a simple picture for each step — stick figures, blobs of colour, or handprints all count.
- Add stickers for decoration, and write your child's name at the top in big letters.
- Let your child add their own marks freely — the messier and more personal, the more ownership they feel.
- Once dry, walk to the bathroom together and let your child choose where to hang their poster.
- Each time you visit the potty, point to the poster: 'Look, there's YOUR poster — you made that!'
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.
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.
When to pause and seek extra support
Stop if your child becomes distressed, unsafe, or consistently frustrated by the activity. If play, behaviour, or development worries keep showing up across settings, check in with a qualified professional.
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