16 potty training games that actually work (and don’t feel like “training”)
Potty training is one of those parenting milestones that can feel surprisingly unpredictable. Some children decide overnight that nappies are “for babies,” while others take weeks or even months of gentle encouragement, accidents and repetition before anything starts to click.
My best friend’s eldest cracked it when she was almost one. Nights included. I remember feeling overwhelmed by this and a self-imposed pressure to achieve such heady heights with my own two year old. But – of course – fast-forward a year or so and her youngest didn’t use the potty until she was three and a half.
There’s also no single right way to do it. Some families lean into structure and routine, others take a more relaxed, child-led approach. And, many end up switching between both depending on the day, the mood or even the outfit (my top tip: stop buying cute rompers and dungarees from 18 months – unbelievably frustrating versus the skirt up/short down option).
Some parents skip the potty altogether
TRB Partnerships Manager and mum of two Harriet explains: “I couldn’t cope with a potty, so mine were straight to the loo! Stayed at home for a few days and then just went to parks with a toilet. I also took their lead, both of mine told me that they didn’t want to wear nappies anymore.”
Similarly, TRB Founder, CEO and mum of five Eloise is currently in the thick of it with her twins. She says: “I’m at it right now! Harder than I remembered – my tip is, don’t try before they can talk. We are also straight to the toilet, rather than using a potty. I got little steps and a cover they can sit on. They find it fun to sit and pull off the paper themselves, but haven’t done anything in the toilet yet.”
Whether you’re using a potty, going straight to the toilet, or still figuring out when to start potty training, the process can feel far easier when it’s framed as play rather than pressure. These potty training games are designed to build confidence, reduce resistance and help kids feel like they’re participating in something fun, not being asked to perform.
When to start potty training
Simple, but also not – the answer here is, when your child is ready.
The NCT highlights that readiness matters far more than age, with most children showing signs somewhere between 18 months and three years, though every child develops at their own pace and readiness varies widely. Signs to watch for include:
- longer dry stretches
- awareness of wees and poos
- hiding to poo
- showing curiosity about the toilet
All of these are more reliable than age alone.
Timing matters too. Big life changes – starting nursery, moving house, or a new sibling, for example – can temporarily disrupt progress and may be worth working around. That was us, by the way – our eldest became a big sister and went back to nursery after the lockdown stint during the Covid pandemic at this time, so we threw our potty plans out accordingly.
Signs your child is not ready for potty training
One of the biggest causes of frustration is starting too early.
Instead of focusing on age, look for readiness cues. If one or more of these apply, it may be worth waiting:
- they don’t notice wet or dirty nappies
- they show little interest in copying adults
- they cannot reliably pull trousers up and down
- they become upset when the potty or toilet is introduced
- they have inconsistent dry periods
When readiness isn’t there, even the best potty training games can feel like resistance rather than progress.
16 potty training games to bring the fun
Conditions set? Here are the best potty training games I’ve used or scouted, to make the whole thing a breeze. Well, as much as possible.
1. Teddy goes first (role-play rehearsal)
Turn toilet time into a game where a favourite toy leads the way. Teddy sits first, gets praised, flushes, and washes hands. Then your child copies the exact sequence.
My OG nursery friend and mum of two Becca said, “One thing that really helped us was making it into a game with their toys. We’d pretend a favourite teddy or doll needed to use the potty first, and then they’d want to copy. It took the pressure off and made it feel fun rather than something they had to do!”
2. Colour-changing wee (all-out distraction)
A friend of a friend came in gold with this one. The original WhatsApp read, “She wouldn’t go in the potty at all, as I think it all got too much. I told her if she went then we could turn the wee all different colours (and she could choose!)
I bought a range of those food colouring drops that come in a tube and it changed everything! She had fun with it and still asks me now almost two years later sometimes if we can change her wee colour.”
Amazing – I’ll take that one for next time around.
3. Something with glitter (magic motivation game)
Most kids love a bit of glitter, so turn success into sparkle. Add glitter stickers to a chart, shake glitter into a “success jar,” or use a sparkly stamp after washing hands. The goal is to make the moment feel magical and slightly ceremonial.
If you can bear it, try shaking a trail of glitter onto the floor leading all the way to the toilet from their bed or another hotspot, like the play mat. Your child just needs to follow the glitter trail, and it’s easy to hoover up afterwards – I like having a bit of sparkle around the place – or, try this one in the garden!
4. Marble mission (visible progress game)
My mat leave bestie and mum of two Charlotte sent me a passionate WhatsApp re this one. “OMG we’re still at it – every time he poos in the toilet and not in his pants he gets a marble in a jar, 10 marbles = a Hot Wheels car.”
Nice. And I can imagine doing the same with Yoto cards, or similar, if cars aren’t your thing. The key is visibility. Toddlers don’t understand abstract progress, but they do understand filling a jar.
5. Potty treasure box (surprise reward game)
A mystery box of small treats only unlocked after success. The unpredictability keeps motivation fresh over time.
6. Bubble breathing breaks (calm focus game)
Blowing bubbles while sitting helps relax the body and shifts attention away from pressure. It’s especially useful for children who resist sitting still, and/or families navigating SEND.
7. Dinosaur rescue mission (imagination game)
This was such a good one for my dinosaur-crazed son. Dino footprints lead to the bathroom. Each toilet visit completes a ‘rescue’ of some kind. The bathroom becomes a mission site rather than a chore, and he took a couple of cretaceous pals in and out each time, for some role play (his fave, to this day).
8. Storytime potty seat (sitting extension game)
Special bathroom-only books encourage children to stay seated longer without noticing the time passing.
9. Potty disco (music cue game)
One special song signals potty time. Dance before, sit during, celebrate after. Over time, the song becomes a behavioural trigger. My daughter loved this one – she’s really motivated by dance and music in general – and the little disco light I bought to bring the vibes went down a treat, too.
10. Rainbow paper chain (progress chain game)
Each success adds a paper link. The chain grows visibly, reinforcing achievement without verbal pressure. Plus, you get a super-pretty decoration at the end of the process, which they’ll love to look at.
Again, positive reinforcement here – my kids love seeing their artwork, charts and certificates up on the wall, it inspires lots of chat about their wins and triumphs while we eat, play and hang out!
11. Aim games (especially for boys)
Floating cereal hoops or toilet targets turn aiming into play. Keep it light to avoid pressure creeping in. I’ve also seen potties with bulls-eye targets in the base – anything to satisfy my son’s need for ‘launching’!
12. Potty passports (journey game)
I would have loved to put this one into play, but only heard about it from a friend once mine were out of nappies.
So simple – each successful visit earns a stamp in a homemade passport, turning toilet training into an adventure. You could even add a fun trip at the end of each successful week – from a trip to the high street for ice cream to something more spectacular right at the end of the process.
13. Cheering squad (energy reward game)
Really simple, but kids remember the vibe much more than individual treats and trinkets. Claps, cheers and silly dances reinforce success, every time.
14. Scavenger hunt (transition game)
Before heading to the toilet, turn it into a quick mini mission: “Can you find me something red?” or “Choose one dinosaur to bring with you – a plant eater!”
Once they’ve collected the treasures, you go straight to the potty.
It works because it softens the transition – your child isn’t being pulled away from play, they’re completing a quick game first, which makes moving to the bathroom feel much easier and more ‘on their terms’.
15. Ring the bell victory moment (announcement game)
Place a bell or sound-maker near the toilet so every success becomes a loud celebration the whole house hears. We loved this one and copied it from a nursery friend – our neighbours even joined in with the whooping over the fence (lockdown garden fun at its best!)
The sound becomes part of the reward loop – instant recognition, pride and shared excitement.
16. The BIG decision (control and autonomy game)
After sitting on the potty, your child gets to make an important household decision:
- which Yoto card plays next
- which snack comes next
- which movie for a movie night
- who goes first in a game
- which bedtime story gets read
- who sits where on the sofa
It reframes potty time as a moment of status and control rather than instruction.
How long does it take to potty train?
There’s no fixed timeline! Some children learn in days, others take months. Night-time dryness often comes later and develops independently – for perspective, mine were four and five when they trained at night. The simplest approach is to follow your child’s lead and keep expectations flexible.
Whether you use structured routines, more intuitive approaches like Harriet and Eloise, or a mixture of the two (more like me), the goal is the same: helping your child feel confident and in control.
Potty training isn’t a race. It’s a phase – and it tends to work best when everyone involved treats it like one.
In the trenches?
Immerse with these resources:
- explore more early parenting transitions in our guide on how to choose a nursery
- read about evolving parenting culture in AI and motherhood
- for evidence-based potty training guidance, the NCT provides further support
- my YouTube parenting go-to Emily Norris has done two fantastic takes on potty training – try her hacks and 4-day guide
