a cute, and even educational potty chart

Jul 21

Posted by: Scott in: blog, caleb isaiah, crafty, just another day in paradise, me myself and i, memories, parenting, you might be a mom

…for the very literal child, pieced together by a mom with too much time and not enough creative outlets.

Last week, as we worked on potty training, I said a few times “Let’s get this train moving down the tracks!” I thought it would be motivational, but instead, it backfired with my very literal son. He actually wanted the train to move down the tracks. As I sat there for mind numbing hours on the hardwood floors reading potty books and waiting on it to happen, I contemplated how I could make his train move. I could cut a slit in the tracks and attach one of those brad thingys in like you used on grade school craft projects to the train maybe. Nah, then he’d be obsessed with moving it, and it would never be in the right place. So this morning I set out to make some train car stickers, since he completed his first chart last night, in just shy of a week! He got 1 sticker last Monday, 2 last Tuesday, and the other 21 were obtained between Wednesday and Sunday. Not too shabby!

Notice anything familiar about this picture? Somebody wanted their feet in it again.

Anyway, I searched online for a picture to use, as I figured it would take entirely too long to draw something myself on the computer (I know I know, copyright, schmopyright.  I get creative points right?  So please don’t sue me). I found a number train, but it was only 1-20 and I needed 1-24. So I copied and pasted and erased and copied and pasted some more. Using pieces of the picture, I constructed cars 21, 22, 23, and 24. See I told you, too much time. It really didn’t take that long once I figured out what I needed to do. So, I present to you, an educational potty chart (you can work on counting backwards!) with a train that moves down the tracks. I test printed it and noticed that the engine was backwards, it was pointed in the wrong direction if it was going to be at the bottom of the tracks in the last space. So I flipped it over and pasted the number one back into the correct, non flipped position, and reprinted…ta-da!

And here’s what you completed chart will look like! I’m such a dork!

Just save the above picture of the train cars and print it out at the exact size it is right here, grab a copy of the Child Avenue Potty Train chart (pdf file), and print your cars out on sticker paper (can be purchased at Walmart). Carefully cut out all your little cars, and now you have a train that counts down as your child gets closer to the prize/end of the tracks!

Comments

7 Responses to “a cute, and even educational potty chart”

    Dianna
    July 21st, 2008 3:08 pm

    It turned out really good! I’ve got to say though, you have entirely way more patience than I ever would! Good luck on pottying today!

    Mrs. Schmitty
    July 21st, 2008 8:59 pm

    Very cute…hope it helps!

    Julie
    July 24th, 2008 8:33 pm

    Clever!!!! I think I mentioned that I liked this idea, so I also printed out the Potty Chart…I put it in a sheet protector and made a little train engine, laminated it and we put it on top of the stickers so it also moves down the tracks…You solution looks like a lot of work, but probably makes more sense!! Daniel hasn’t ever cared about trains, but he keeps telling me every day that he’s ready to go for a ride on a train. We’re going to have to find one. A real one, now!

    Erica
    January 10th, 2011 6:57 pm

    I just found your post & wanted to thank you for doing all the hard work that I will benefit from. My son LOVES trains and we are just starting potty training so I can’t wait to use this with him! Thanks again!

    kirsti
    July 17th, 2011 3:54 pm

    This is exactly what I was hoping to find to start with my 2 1/2 yr old boy. He loves train and I wanted a train set to be his potty training present. Thanks so much for sharing your hard work!!

    mandy
    August 14th, 2011 9:59 pm

    okay,so first i have to say…when i first saw your blog i thought it said crumbs in my crotch! i had to reread the title and almost spit out my juice laughing at my error! the funny thing is i almost named my blog ‘fish crackers on my floor’ so i know whatcha mean! this is brilliant! i have a 3 year old who hasn’t the least intention of going potty on the toilet til he’s 20. i must try this! thank you! and forgive my inappropriate error:D

    Jen
    September 7th, 2011 6:25 pm

    Thank you for this! I have been using that train chart with my boy for a while, but the adorable train cars are proving to be quite an incentive for him to be more consistent.

    Thank you!

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