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Emilia and the Potty

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Emilia's Big Firsts · Story 1

About “Emilia and the Potty”

Emilia gets her very own potty. She learns to listen for her tummy's signal, to be patient, to wave bye-bye to the big WHOOSH, and to wash up with lots of lather.

Potty learning is a string of small steps, and this story takes them one at a time. Emilia feels a rumble in her tummy and learns to call it a signal. She sits on her own potty and waits, and the first try ends with nothing at all, which the narrator calls okay. After some play the signal returns, and this time it works. The flush is so loud that she jumps and covers her ears, so the story turns it into the water waving goodbye. Then comes the sink: soap, lather, rinse, dry. Anxious children get to see every part ahead of time, wobbly parts included.

The three big words

signal
A message from your body.
patient
Waiting nicely, calm and still.
lather
Soapy, bubbly foam.

Tips for grown-ups

  • Borrow the word signal. When your child pauses, squirms or goes still, ask, 'Is that a signal?' The AAP lists showing signs of needing to go, along with staying dry for about two hours, among the clues that a child may be ready.
  • Count out loud while your child sits, the way the narrator counts to ten with Emilia. If nothing happens, get up and try again later, just as she does after her first try.
  • If the flush is frightening, let your child push the handle and wave bye-bye like Emilia. The AAP notes that some children fear the flush and suggests letting children do the flushing for a sense of control.
  • Keep the steps in the same order every time: sit, wipe front to back, flush, wash. The AAP recommends a consistent bathroom routine, wiping and handwashing included.
  • At the sink, make lather on palms, thumbs and every finger, like the story's lather page. The CDC suggests scrubbing for at least 20 seconds, about two rounds of the 'Happy Birthday' song.
  • Praise in specific words, such as 'You listened to your body.' The AAP favors specific praise over treats or punishments, and expects skills to slip now and then.

Talk about it

After watching, ask:

  • What did Emilia's tummy do?
  • What happened the first time she sat on the potty?
  • How high did we count while she waited?
  • Why did Emilia cover her ears?
  • How did she say bye-bye to the water?
  • What do soap and rubbing make?

Try this together

Give a favorite stuffed animal a turn: sit it on the potty or a box, count to ten together, make a big WHOOSH and wave bye-bye. Then wash your real hands side by side and see who can make the fluffiest lather.

Free coloring page

Coloring page: Emilia smiling next to her little potty with friendly eyes, and Pip the bunny

Emilia and Her Potty: print it (US Letter or A4) or color it on screen.

Read the story

In a cozy little house with a big apple tree
lives Emilia, as curious as can be!
Her Big Firsts chart has nine spots, row by row,
one sticker for each big first. Ready? Let's go!

In the bathroom, a surprise had come to stay:
a potty, her very own! Hip, hip, hooray!
A round little seat and a lid like a hat,
and two friendly eyes! Well, imagine that!

Emilia peeked at the potty. The potty peeked too.
She squeezed Pip, her bunny. What do potties do?
Pip wiggled one ear, when nobody could see,
as if to say, Let's find out! Come with me!

When your tummy goes rumble, a funny little hum,
that's a signal: potty time has come!
A signal is a message your body sends you.
It says, Let's find the potty! That's what to do.

Then rumble went her tummy. A signal! Hooray!
She hurried to her potty and sat right away.
She sat, and she waited. She waited some more.
So patient! So still! She counted to four.

But nothing came out. Not a drip. Not a drop.
That's okay! She'll try later. Hop, hop, hop!
Big firsts can feel wobbly, and that is okay.
You try, and you practice a little each day.

She built a block tower. She sipped apple juice.
She hopped like a bunny. She stomped like a moose!

Then... rumble! Her tummy! She knew what it meant.
The signal! The signal! And off Emilia went!

She sat on her potty, as patient as could be.
Let's count with her! One... two... three...
four... five... six... seven... eight... nine... ten!
Tinkle, tinkle, splash! Oh! What happened then?

She did it! She did it! She tinkled! Hooray!
Emilia's first potty! What a wonderful day!

She wiped, front to back, and pulled up her pants,
then wiggled and jiggled a proud little dance!

Into the big potty it went, with a plop.
She climbed on her stool to the handle on top.

She pushed down the handle. WHOOSH! What a sound!
The water went swirling and swirling around!

Emilia jumped back and covered her ears.
That whoosh was SO loud! Oh dear, oh dear!

But soon the swirl slowed, and grew quiet and small.
That whoosh is just water. It's not scary at all!
It's the water's way of saying bye-bye to you,
so Emilia waved. And Pip waved too!

Up to the sink, on her stool, she went,
for a squirt of soap with a sweet flower scent.

She rubbed till the bubbles began to gather.
That soft, foamy fluff is called lather!
Lather the palms, and lather each thumb,
and every last finger, each and every one!

Then rinse off the bubbles, and pat your hands dry.
Clean hands, big girl! High five, way up high!

Her very first potty! She did it! Let's sing,
and clap, and dance, and do the She-Did-It thing!

Then back to her chart, where the nine spots are.
In spot number one goes a shiny gold star!
One big first, done! Is she proud? Oh, yes!
Eight spots to go! What's next? Can you guess?

Big words today! Say them with me!
Signal!
A message from your body. Rumble, rumble!
Patient!
Waiting nicely, calm and still.
Lather!
Soapy bubbles! Rub-a-dub-dub!

Every big first starts out wobbly and new,
then one day you do it! Hooray! Look at you!
Next time, Emilia goes to the dentist. Bye-bye!

Questions parents ask

When are children ready to start potty training?

The AAP says children show signs of bladder and bowel control between 18 and 24 months, and that training in the U.S. usually begins between ages 2 and 3. Signs include staying dry for two hours, following simple instructions and asking to use the potty. Your child's doctor can help if you're unsure.

My toddler is scared of the flush. What helps?

The AAP explains that some children worry the toilet will flush part of them away, or that they could be pulled in, and suggests letting children flush for themselves. Emilia's little wave goodbye can make that a ritual.

Is it normal to sit on the potty and have nothing happen?

Yes. Emilia's first try ends with nothing at all, and she simply tries again later. The AAP notes that children learn best when praised for progress rather than punished for mistakes.

Sources

Our tips follow these pages. They are general information, not medical advice: ask your child's doctor or dentist about your child.