Notes for adults

Age 2 · 5 min · Easy

Celebrate a potty training milestone with a certificate to fill in and a space for your child to draw.

Learning objectives

• Take part in celebrating a personal achievement.
• Make marks or draw in the space on the certificate.
• Share something about the experience using words or gestures.

What you need

• Printed certificate
• Thick crayons
• Pen for the adult to fill in the certificate

Safety notes

An adult should supervise throughout the activity. Use thick, age-appropriate crayons and do not let your child put them in their mouth.

How to do it

1. Print the certificate and set out the crayons.
2. Invite your child to celebrate their achievement if they would like to.
3. Fill in their name and the date on the certificate.
4. Show your child the drawing space and pretend to draw in the air.
5. Offer a crayon so your child can make marks or draw freely.
6. Look at the drawing together and celebrate their effort.
7. Keep or display the certificate with your child's permission.

Teaching suggestions

• Say, “You've been learning new things about using the potty!”
• If your child doesn't want to draw, let them choose a color or simply watch.
• Welcome scribbles and gestures as ways to express ideas.
• In a group, celebrate each child privately and respect their privacy.

Variations

• Easier: Your child chooses a color and makes one mark, with help if they want it.
• More challenging: Invite your child to tell you something about their drawing as they draw.
• Extend the activity: Another time, talk about one part of the bathroom routine, such as washing hands.

Talk about it

• What would you like to draw?
• What would you like to tell me about your drawing?
• How do you like to celebrate something you've learned?

What to look for

• Notice whether your child joins the celebration in their own way.
• See whether they make marks in the drawing space, with or without help.
• Notice whether they share an idea using words or gestures.