Social Stories and Rewards for Potty Training?

[Guest guest]

Hi guys,

I am gearing up to start (re-start, really) trying to potty train my 3 1/4 year

old son when he is on Christmas break starting Monday. I have been told by

several people that a social story about potty training would be a good tool.

While I have written other social stories for him in the past, I am not quite

sure how to write on this topic. Does anyone have a good one they could share?

I am also wondering about the reward system of potty training, where the child

gets a little something for sitting on the potty, more for peeing, and then a

bigger prize for pooping (my friend did it with M & Ms - 1, 3, or 5, depending on

what her son did). We tried a sticker reward chart during a previous potty

training attempt, and it was not a useful motivator. I am thinking about trying

with some of those chewy fruit snacks this time around. My son really loves

them, and we do not usually keep them in the house. My concern is what if they

do turn out to be a good motivator, and then he expects to get a reward every

time he uses the potty from now until eternity? In general, we find that we have

to be careful about doing anything special just once, because our son will

assume that is the way it will always be going forward. Has anyone used this

potty training method with success, and if so how did you wean off the rewards?

Or would it be better not to have a set reward promised in advance, but to

surprise him with the treat if he uses the potty? Or no reward at all except

lots of applause?

Thanks for all of your help - I have a feeling we will need it!

Bridget