A simple sticker trick to help with wiping
If you’ve ever told your toddler to “just take a little toilet paper”…
and then watched them either pull half the roll off…
or take two sad little squares…
You’re not alone. 😅
Let’s talk about why that happens and how to change this!
Toddlers Don’t Learn the Same Way Adults Do
As adults, we rely heavily on verbal instructions and abstract understanding. When someone tells us:
“Just grab a little.”
“Use a small amount.”
“Not too much.”
We can estimate. Toddlers can’t do that yet. Their brains are still developing skills like:
estimating quantity
planning multi-step tasks
translating words into physical action
impulse control
stopping mid-action
So when we only give them verbal instructions, we’re asking them to:
Imagine → Plan → Execute → Monitor → Adjust
That’s a LOT of brain work for a 2–3 year old!
How Toddlers Learn
Most toddlers learn best when they can:
✔ See what success looks like
✔ Match what they see to what they do
✔ Repeat the same pattern
✔ Get feedback from the environment
Giving them visual cues can help them be more successful right away!
Try This Sticker Trick
Place a small sticker below the toilet paper roll where you want them to stop pulling…
You just gave their brain:
👉 A stopping point
👉 A visual boundary
👉 A repeatable pattern
Instead of:
“How much is enough?”
Their brain now thinks:
“Stop here!”
That is way easier for toddler brains to process.
Why This Matters
When toddlers can succeed more easily, you often see:
✔ Less resistance
✔ Less power struggle
✔ More willingness to try
✔ More pride in independence
And honestly?
Less stress for you too!
The Big Takeaway
Potty training gets easier when we meet toddlers where they are developmentally. And these tiny tweaks often lead to big wins.
If you want more simple, real-life strategies like this, you’ll love my program Potty Training Playfully. I’ll show you how to teach this skill using play and connection to meet your little one exactly where they are developmentally.