Teddy Tries the Potty
Teddy Tries the Potty is a calm life skills activity for toddlers aged 18–36 months (corrected age). A teddy or doll acts out the potty routine while your child helps: sitting down, a pretend pee, wiping, flushing and washing paws, so the steps start to feel familiar. It takes 3–8 minutes, needs no prep and works indoors.
Updated
Teddy Tries the Potty
A teddy or doll acts out the potty routine while your child helps: sitting down, a pretend pee, wiping, flushing and washing paws, so the steps start to feel familiar.
- Ages (corrected)
- 18–36 months
- Time
- 3–8 min
- Prep
- No prep
- Where
- Indoors · Calm
You need
- a teddy or doll
- the potty chair, or a small box as a pretend potty
- a square of toilet paper
Steps
- Say "Teddy needs a pee!" and walk teddy to the potty with your child.
- Help teddy pull down pretend pants and sit, then whisper "Teddy is trying" and wait a moment.
- Say "Psss... all done!" and hand your child the toilet paper to wipe teddy.
- Let your child pretend to tip the bowl into the toilet and press the flush with you.
- Wash your hands together at the sink while teddy "washes" its paws beside you.
Safety first
- Open the toilet lid only for the flush, stand right beside your child, and close it again straight away.
- Use a toy with sewn-on eyes and no loose parts, and keep it out of the toilet water.
No level picked yet. The 0–4 scale is a learning log, not a test.
Not yet: show it once, then let them explore
Watch for the first sign: sits the toy on the potty after you show it.
Not yet is information, not a verdict. Do it once yourself while they watch, pause, and offer it again in a few days.
Simplify one step
Next time: do just one part: sit teddy on the potty and say "Teddy is sitting on the potty."
Give the least help that works: wait first, then point or show, and guide hands only briefly.
Repeat the same version and fade your help
As you step back, watch for: wipes or flushes for the toy without being shown.
Pause a few seconds longer before you model, and swap showing it for a point or a gesture.
Offer it once more, then add one change
When it is easy again: let your child lead teddy through the routine while you only describe what happens.
Change only that one thing and keep everything else the same.
Ready for one step up
Let your child lead teddy through the routine while you only describe what happens. Or carry it somewhere new: play the same routine with a different doll at a relative's home, using the same words.
Starting it on their own or using it in a new place is the strongest sign. Still change one thing at a time.
Stop and rest this one
In 2-3 days, come back with the simpler version: do just one part: sit teddy on the potty and say "Teddy is sitting on the potty."
End with something calming together. One hard moment never means a delay.
Stop on a good note
Keep this version and keep it short next time: 3 minutes is plenty.
They can do it, but it was not fun today. Add difficulty only once it feels easy and enjoyable again.
How to play Teddy Tries the Potty
5 steps, about 3–8 minutes of focus time, no prep.
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Say "Teddy needs a pee!" and walk teddy to the potty with your child.
-
Help teddy pull down pretend pants and sit, then whisper "Teddy is trying" and wait a moment.
-
Say "Psss... all done!" and hand your child the toilet paper to wipe teddy.
-
Let your child pretend to tip the bowl into the toilet and press the flush with you.
-
Wash your hands together at the sink while teddy "washes" its paws beside you.
What you need for Teddy Tries the Potty
| What you need | A teddy or doll, the potty chair, or a small box as a pretend potty and a square of toilet paper |
|---|---|
| Prep | No prep |
| Focus time | 3–8 minutes |
| Where | Indoors |
| Energy | Calm: good after active play or before a nap |
| Ages (corrected) | 18–36 months |
| Domains | Practical life, Creativity & pretend |
| Low-prep menu | Yes: no prep and 10 minutes or less |
Easier and harder versions
Change one thing at a time. Drop to the easier version when Teddy Tries the Potty stalls; move one rung up only once it looks easy on a few different days.
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Easier
Do just one part: sit teddy on the potty and say "Teddy is sitting on the potty."
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As written
The 5 steps above, for 3–8 minutes.
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Harder 1
Let your child lead teddy through the routine while you only describe what happens.
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Harder 2
Ask "What does teddy do next?" at each step and wait for their idea.
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Hardest
Add a second toy that waits for its turn, so your child runs the routine twice.
What to watch for
The signs of progress in Teddy Tries the Potty, mapped to the 0–4 learning scale the family plan uses (a tracking aid, not an assessment).
| Level | What it looks like here |
|---|---|
| 2 · After a model | Does it right after you show it or point. Watch for: sits the toy on the potty after you show it. |
| 3 · Independent | Does it when offered, with no demonstration. Watch for: wipes or flushes for the toy without being shown and says or signs a word such as "pee" or "potty" during the game. |
| 4 · Spontaneous | Starts it unprompted or in a new place. Watch for: starts the potty game with a toy on their own. |
Try it somewhere new
Level 4 means the skill travels. Once Teddy Tries the Potty is easy, change the place, the person or the material:
- Play the same routine with a different doll at a relative's home, using the same words.
Words to model
During Teddy Tries the Potty, say “potty”, “pee”, “wipe” and “flush” at the moment they happen, one at a time, then pause so your child can answer with a look, a gesture, a sign or a word.
Safety for Teddy Tries the Potty
- Open the toilet lid only for the flush, stand right beside your child, and close it again straight away.
- Use a toy with sewn-on eyes and no loose parts, and keep it out of the toilet water.
Why it works
AAP potty-training guidance recommends the same bathroom routine in the same order each time, including wiping and hand washing, and pretending with toys is on CDC's 30-month checklist; acting it out lets a child rehearse the steps as play.
Evidence rating: Consensus: sensible practice in line with pediatric guidance. Cited: AAP HealthyChildren.org: Potty Training and CDC milestone checklists by age.
Skills and ages
Teddy Tries the Potty practises potty awareness and pretend sequences and fits ages 18 to 36 months. Each month below opens more activities for that age.
Skills practised
Activities by month (18–36 months)
Milestone checklists nearby
Activities like Teddy Tries the Potty
Meet the Potty is the closest match: it also practises potty awareness and it uses the same potty chair and stuffed animal. It suits 15–36 months, takes 2–5 minutes (a little shorter than Teddy Tries the Potty) and needs 2 minutes of prep. For a younger child, Meet the Potty starts at 15 months.
Ranked by shared skills, materials and ages
Frequently asked questions
What age is Teddy Tries the Potty for?
Teddy Tries the Potty suits 18–36 months, using corrected age for a child born early. For a younger or hesitant child, start with the easier version: do just one part: sit teddy on the potty and say "Teddy is sitting on the potty."
How long does Teddy Tries the Potty take?
About 3–8 minutes of focused play over 5 steps, with no prep. Stop while it is still fun and repeat it on another day.
How do I make Teddy Tries the Potty harder?
Change one thing at a time. First: let your child lead teddy through the routine while you only describe what happens. Then: ask "What does teddy do next?" at each step and wait for their idea. Hardest: add a second toy that waits for its turn, so your child runs the routine twice.
How do I keep Teddy Tries the Potty safe?
Play it only with an adult within arm’s reach. Open the toilet lid only for the flush, stand right beside your child, and close it again straight away. Use a toy with sewn-on eyes and no loose parts, and keep it out of the toilet water.
Related
More with the same materials
Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.