How To Set Up A Peace Corner When Potty Training Your Emotional Toddler And Why It Will Help
Is your toddler struggling with lots of feelings during potty training? Then, a Peace Corner might just be what you need.
Most toddlers have lots of feelings during potty training because it is all new and takes quite a bit more effort than they had ever had to put into going pee or poop before. And many of the challenges parents face during potty training are behavioral.
This is why a Peace Corner can be such a helpful piece of the puzzle. And ultimately, a positive addition to any household with toddler(s) because emotions during toddlerhood run high for all.
Know that big feelings don’t need to stop you from potty training. If your toddler and you are ready, then soothing them through big feelings may be a regular part of the potty training process. Potty training is essentially one big transition (from playing to sitting on the potty until they start to get a hang of how to do it on their own) and toddlers struggle with transitions, so prepare yourself to transition and soothe, transition and soothe.
Here are a couple helpful articles for when to start potty training and everything you will need in place before you begin:
What is a Peace Corner?
A Peace Corner is a safe, quiet, cozy place where your toddler can reset and recharge before getting back to potty training or play.
Its an ‘unwind’ corner with the purpose of supporting a toddler’s social-emotional development.
Stocked with comforting teddies, pillows and calming toys, a Peace Corner will help teach your toddler appropriate behavior and how to self-regulate when they’re having overwhelming feelings.
Research shows that praise and positive reinforcement is more effective than punishment with children, so it’s important to use the Peace Corner as a comforting, chill space (where you calmly go together), rather than a forced/punishment space (where you send them to go calm down on their own).
Where to set it up?
Choose a spot near the main play area in your home. You want it to be easily accessible throughout the day, and far enough away from the play area so they can have some distance if other siblings are playing too.
A window is a plus. Many toddlers find the outdoors soothing, so having a view of the sky, birds, trees etc can have a calming effect.
If you don’t have available space near a window, don’t worry.
Here are the main elements you want to have in your Peace Corner:
- A mat or blanket to sit on.
- Cozy pillows.
- A plush throw or weighted blanket to curl up with.
- A teddy or lovey to cuddle.
- A toddler-safe mirror. (Edges on toddler’s mirrors can be sharp and an easy way to baby a proof them is to use gaff tape.)
- De-stressing toys such as squeeze balls, pin art, brain teaser puzzles, ooze tubes.
- Books about feelings and peace.
- Noise cancelling headphones to block out background noise.
- Happy, uplifting art and/or peace projects they have done.
- A plant to care for. (Optional)
How to use the Peace Corner
Include your toddler in the setup process. They’ll familiarize with it and it’s purpose, and get excited. Let them know you are going to be putting a special spot together just for them, for when they are feeling sad, mad, angry or frustrated, because ‘they are still learning their feelings’.
Let them pick out some of the special things they want to have there – the blanket, the dollies, the pillows. Finish stocking with books and other calming toys.
Once everything is all set up, recognize moments when your toddler is experiencing feelings (ie: when potty training – “no! I don’t want to sit on the potty!”) and have them ‘take a break’ with you in the peace corner with a book, puzzle or de-stressing toy.
You can say, “you’re upset. Let’s go take a break in the Peace Corner until we feel better.”
With use over time, your toddler will soon self-initiate going to the Peace Corner to decompress.
You can also encourage them to go solo by saying, “you’re feeling upset about the potty. You can go sit and cuddle with teddy in the Peace Corner until you feel better.”
When your toddler has feelings, that doesn’t mean you need to stop potty training. Remember, feelings are inevitable for most toddlers during potty training. What you need to do when big feelings arise, is validate and help them soothe and calm down, and then try again later. Slowly but surely you will help them get used to using the potty regularly. You may have to help them calm down several times a day, especially when just starting out.
Potty training is a multifaceted task that takes a lot of energy and teamwork. If you need more help with potty training your toddler, click here to see the top potty training articles on how to keep the process low stress and peaceful for all.
More resources
For helpful tips on how to potty train using my Peaceful Potty Training Method, you can read this article: How To Potty Train Like A Pro – The Peaceful Potty Training Method – Tips Every First Timer Needs To Know
For handling fear during potty training, you can read this article: How To Handle Fear When Potty Training
For getting your toddler motivated to sit and stay on the potty longer, you can read this article: How To Get Your Toddler To Sit & Stay Longer On The Potty
