Potty Training... review and a Giveaway!

Saying good-bye to big boxes of these!

With February being here, it seems appropriate to touch, here and there, on love.  And one particular thing I L.O.V.E. is potty trained children.  Not necessarily "potty training"... please understand the difference... but potty trained children.  Children that no longer wear diapers.  During the month of January I became the mother of only one child in diapers.  For the first time in nearly 4 years!  That's right... my two older ones are finally out of diapers at night.  If you're interested in how we finally did that (at 5 and nearly 4 years old), let me know in the comments and I'll write up a post. 

That is not what this post is about... where was I?  

Ah yes, love.  I love potty trained children.  I love not using diapers.    And so, it would make sense that I would love any and all tools that would help me to have potty trained children.  Right?

Enter Potty Time.

A month or so ago I received word that the makers of Signing Time had come out with a new DVD, one Rachel swore she'd never make.  I read about it, and wondered about it... but pretty much decided I was afraid.  

Yep... afraid.  You see, we try not to expose our children to silly little children's songs.  For the most part we omit the traditional kids songs from their learning... including the "Bible" songs that many of us grew up learning.  So... I imagined that this would be full of the kinds of things I don't want my children hearing and then repeating.  

We certainly don't need more "obnoxious" in this house.  

So I let that news go by.  

But then I got an email from LeeAnn at Signing Time wondering if I'd be interested in reviewing the new Potty Time.  I said sure, so she dropped it in the mail for me.  But I still wasn't sure.  I was completely prepared to write up a tasteful review that included why it wasn't for our family and to give away a copy to one of you who, perhaps, would still be interested.  

It arrived, and I decided immediately that I wanted to watch it first, before the kids saw it.  But they knew it was coming.  Then they saw it arrive.  Still, I told them Mommy was going to watch it first.  

Then I caved.  Against better judgment, we all sat down together to watch Potty Time.    

And what can I say?  

Why did I doubt?

When have the makers of Signing Time ever let me down?

I love it!  

My children love it!

My {almost} 18 month old loves it!  

It's that last one I want to park on for a few minutes as I think it's important for spelling out the wonder of Signing Time in general for you.  

My children have all talked late.  Tornado was 19 months before he said anything at all.  Sweet Pea was 17 months before she said more than MaMa. 

Little Man showed real promise when he began saying “Done done”, “tha” (that), and “Da” for daddy by the time he was 1!  But with only the addition of one or two other little "words" over the last 5+ months, he's far from talking!  That is until this last week or so.

I'll admit, I haven't been as "good" about watching the Signing Time DVDs with them since Little Man came along.  To be honest, it's been deliberate.  Not because we don't love Signing Time, but because I don't want my older ones used to watching daily TV.  They don't need it, and when they aren't used to it, they don't miss it either.  What a better way to live!  But, alas, that means I've missed out on the great word teaching help I got from Signing Time with those same older ones when they were younger.  

As we've been watching Potty Time this week, Little Man has been paying close attention.  He loves to say "Uh oh" and even covers his mouth just like they do.  He has started doing the sign for "potty" more accurately (than what he was when it was me teaching him alone), and signs and says "eat eat" when he wants food.  In the last day or so, I've seen an increase in his vocabulary and signs even more with the addition of the sign and saying of "wipe" when he's done on the potty and "stop" any other time.  

And he's just too cute signing wash hands anytime we're near a sink. 

I just know I'm forgetting some of the little cute-nesses that have all come thanks to Potty Time!

Now, every good review has to include some sort of cons.  So here is the downside to the Potty Time DVD... (not that it's any different than any of the Signing Time or Baby Signing Time DVDs.  The songs are catchy!  Catchy for the kids... catchy for Mom!  Is this all bad?  No... it's done on purpose I'm sure.  All I'm saying is that I'd much rather be singing just about ANY adult song while washing dishes at the sink than to find myself thinking, humming, or singing the words to the "Accident" song:

When you bump your head
Or when you wet the bed...
Uh oh, it's an accident. 
When you fall off a chair
Or go potty in your underwear...
Uh oh, it's an accident.

Not the song you want to get caught singing... that's all I'm sayin.

That said, I do have to say that I am very impressed by the music and lyrics included.  They are neither obnoxious nor twaddly in my thinking.  Just as I should have expected from all their other wonderful DVDs, the songs are well written and are fabulous at teaching both the signs and whatever other topic being presented.  [I find my children learn to talk from them just as much as sign... sometimes more depending on the child!  I strongly attribute my oldest son's early vocabulary to Signing Time!  (It's just that the talking takes a bit longer sometimes to get started!)]

The songs and topics presented in Potty Time begin with growing up, pass through the steps to going on the potty (telling mommy and daddy, wiping, washing hands), "listening" to your body, and more.  

And what's more???  An audio CD of the songs is included!!!  As is a cute little watch for your little one to wear that tells them when it's time to go to the potty!  Too cute!

All I can say (yes, after this very long post) is good job Signing Time!  Potty Time is a raging success in this household and I wish you the best success with it worldwide!

Potty Time preview from Signing Time on Vimeo.

******And now, I have a copy of the DVD and CD, as well as the cute little watch, to give away to one of my readers!!!!  All you have to do is leave a comment and tell me about your little Potty Trainee... or soon to be. :)  I'll pick a winner on Valentine's Day... because seriously, who doesn't love when their children are finally potty trained???

Linking up:

Disclaimer:  I was provided a copy of the "Potty Time You Can Do It Pack" to review and another to give away to one of my readers!  All opinions mentioned here are my own!