Good teachers break big tasks into a series of small steps and present them one at a time so as not to overwhelm young learners. The mere act of sitting down on a potty seems simple enough to adults, but the unfamiliar feel of a seat with a hole in the middle and the sensation of cold, hard plastic on a soft, warm bottom can be hard to handle! Break even this simple task into smaller steps.

Let the new potty sit in the bathroom for several days so your child becomes accustomed to seeing it. Let her carry it around the house and play with it in her own way. Unless she can't wait to try it, have her sit on it fully clothed several times before trying it bare-bottomed. That way, she can adjust to sitting low to the ground on a chair with a hole in the middle before experiencing the cold seat. It's better to move too slowly than too fast!