DEPARTMENT OF

PSYCHOLOGY

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

TOPIC : EARLY CHILDHOOD :

GENDER IDENTITY AND TOILET
TRAINING
SUBMITTED TO :
AMARPREET MAM

SUBMITTED BY :

PGDCDC
20361220

Gender Identity
 Introduction :-
Gender identity refers to the intimate and deep feeling a person has of
themselves. Children begin to understand and express their gender identity
early in life.

This article discusses how gender identity typically develops and how parents
and caregivers can promote healthy development of gender identity and
expression in children. It's important to remember that each child is unique
and may develop at a different pace.

What we mean by gender: Some useful

definitions :-
Sex at birth: When children are born, the sex "male" or "female" is
determined based on external genitalia. A child who has a penis is said to be
male. A child who has a vulva is said to be female. A child who is born with
reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn't fit the description of “female” or
“male is referred to as an intersex child. 

Gender identity: Gender identity is “who you know yourself to be”. It is

important to know that gender identity exists on a spectrum. A person’s
gender identity can be masculine, feminine, or other.

Gender expression: This is how you express your gender to others, whether

through behavior , clothing, hairstyle, the name you choose to go by,
etc. Words to describe someone’s gender expression could be “masculine,”
“feminine,” “androgynous,” etc.

Sexual orientation: This refers to sexual or emotional attraction that one

feels for another person.

How does gender identity develop :-

Here is what you can typically expect at different ages:

 2 to 3 years old:
 At around 2 years old, children are aware of differences between
boys and girls.
 Most children can identify themselves as a “boy” or “girl”. This
term may or may not match the assigned sex at birth.
 Some children’s gender identity remains stable over their life,
while others may alternate between identifying themselves as
“boy” or “girl”, or even assume other gender identities at different
times (sometimes even in the same day). This is normal and
healthy.
 
 4 to 5 years old:
 While many children at this age have a stable gender identity,
gender identity may change later in life.
 Children become more aware of gender expectations or
stereotypes as they grow older. For example, they may think that
certain toys are only for girls or boys.
 Some children may express their gender very strongly. For
example, a child might go through a stage of insisting on wearing
a dress every day, or refusing to wear a dress even on special
occasions.
 
 6 to 7 years old:
 Many children begin to reduce outward expressions of gender as
they feel more confident that others recognize their gender. For
example, a girl may not feel that she has to wear a dress every
day because she knows that others see her as a girl no matter
what she wears.
 Children who feel their gender identity is different from the
assigned sex at birth may experience increased social anxiety
because they want to be the same as their peers, but realize they
don’t feel the same way.
  8 years old and up:
 Most children will continue to have a gender identify that matches
the assigned sex at birth.
 Pre-teens and teens continue to develop their gender identity
through personal reflection and with input from their social
environment, like peers, family and friends.
 Some gender-stereotyped behaviours may appear. You may
notice your teen or pre-teen making efforts to “play up" or "play
down" some of their body’s physical changes.
 As puberty begins, some youth may realize that their gender
identity is different from their assigned sex at birth.
 Because some children’s gender identification may change,
especially around puberty, families are encouraged to keep
options open for their child.

How do most children express their gender

identity :-
Younger children may express their gender very clearly. For example, they
may say “I am a she, not a he!”, “I am not your daughter, I am your son.”

Children may also express their gender through their:

 Clothing or hairstyle
 Choice of toys, games, and sports
 Social relationships, including the gender of friends  
 Preferred name or nickname

Remember: Gender expression is different from gender identity. You

can’t assume a child’s gender identity based on their gender expression (for
example, their choice of toys, clothing, or friends).
Toilet training
 Toilet training is teaching your child to recognize his or her body signals for
urinating and having a bowel movement and using a potty chair or toilet correctly
and at the appropriate times.

 Toilet training should begin when the child shows signs that he or she is
ready.

 There is no right age to begin. If you try to toilet train before your child is
ready, it can be a battle for both you and your child.

 The ability to control bowel and bladder muscles comes with proper growth
and development.

Children develop at different rates. A child younger than 12 months of age

has no control over bladder or bowel movements. There is very little
control between 12 to 18 months. Most children are unable to obtain bowel
and bladder control until 24 to 30 months. The average age of toilet .

Learning when my child is ready to begin toilet

training
The following may be indicators of your child's readiness
to begin toilet training. Your child should be able to:
 Walk well in order to get to the potty chair.

 Tell you when there is a need to go to the potty.

 Control the muscles used for going to the potty.

Signs that your child may be ready for toilet training
include the following:-
  Asks to have the diaper changed or tells you a bowel
movement or urine is coming
 Shows discomfort when the diaper is wet or dirty

 Enjoys copying what parents or older children do.

 Follows you into the bathroom to see how the toilet is

used.

Getting started with toilet training

The following tips may help parents get started with toilet training:

 If there are siblings, ask them to let the younger child see
you praising them for using the toilet.

 It is best to use a potty chair on the floor rather than putting

the child on the toilet for training. The potty chair is more
secure for most children because their feet reach the floor
and there is no fear of falling off. If you decide to use a seat
that goes over the toilet, use a footrest for your child's feet.

 Children should be allowed to play with the potty: sit on it

with clothes on and later with diapers off. This way they can
get used to it.

 Never strap your child to the potty chair. Children should be

free to get off the potty when they want.

 Your child should not sit on the potty for more than 5
minutes. Sometimes, children have a bowel movement just
after the diaper is back on because the diaper feels normal.
Do not get upset or punish your child. You can try taking the
dirty diaper off and putting the bowel movement in the potty
 with your child watching you. This may help your child
understand that you want the bowel movement in the potty.

 If your child has a usual time for bowel movements (such as

after a meal) you can take your child to the potty at that time
of day. If your child acts a certain way when having a bowel
movement (such as stooping, getting quiet, going to the
corner), you may try taking your child to potty when he or
she shows it is time.

 If your child wants to sit on the potty, you may stay next to
your child and talk or read a book.

 It is good to use words for what your child is doing ("potty,"

"pee," or "poop"). Then your child learns the words to tell
you. Remember that other people will hear these words. It is
best not to use words that will offend, confuse, or embarrass
others or your child.

 Avoid using words like "dirty," "naughty," or "stinky" to

describe bowel movements and urine. Use a simple, matter-
of-fact tone.

 If your child gets off the potty before urinating or passing a

bowel movement, be calm. Do not scold. Try again later. If
your child successfully uses the potty, give plenty of praise
(such as a smile, clap, or hug).

 Children learn from copying adults and other children. It may

help if your child sits on the potty chair while you are using
the toilet.

 Children often follow parents into the bathroom. This may be

one time they are willing to use the potty.

After training is started

The following tips may help parents once the training is started: 

 Once children start using the potty and can tell you they
need to go, taking them to the potty at regular times or
reminding them too many times to go to the potty is not
necessary.

 You may want to start using training pants. Wearing

underpants is a sign of growing up, and most children like
being a "big girl or big boy." Wearing diapers once potty
training has been started may be confusing for the child.

 If your child has an accident while in training pants, do not

punish. Be calm and clean up without making a fuss about it.

 Keep praising or rewarding your child every step of the way:

for pulling down pants, for sitting on the potty, and for using
the potty. If parents show that they are pleased when
children urinate or have bowel movements in the potty,
children are more likely to use the potty next time.

 As children get older, they can learn to wipe themselves and

wash hands after going to the bathroom. Girls should be
taught to wipe from front to back so that germs from bowel
movement are not wiped into the urinary area.

 Remember that every child is different and learns toilet

training at his or her own pace. If things are going poorly with
toilet training, it is better to put diapers back on for a few
weeks and try again later. In general, have a calm, unhurried
approach to toilet training.

 Most children have bowel control and daytime urine control

by age 3 or 4. Soiling or daytime wetting after this age
should be discussed with your child's healthcare provider.
 Even when children are toilet trained, they may have
some normal accidents (when excited or playing
a lot), or setbacks due to illness or emotional situations.
If accidents or setbacks happen, be patient. Examples
of emotional situations include moving to a new house,
illness or death in the family, or a new baby in the
house. In fact, if you know an emotional situation is
going to be happening soon, do not start toilet training.
Wait for a calmer time.

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