Sounds normal...kids are fascinated by their body and its functions. Shouting at him for it and showing you're angry could actually make it worse as he could associate going to the toilet with being frightened. You can communicate your displeasure, but you have to do it with love- toilet phobias, once ingrained, are usually lifelong, so you need to be very careful not to give him one. If he does it again take him by the hand and get on his level. Explain that whilst it's very good that he's not in nappies anymore, he needs to do his business in the toilet, that's what big boys do. Explain what the poo and wee actually is, why our bodies make it, and why it needs to be on the toilet- ie, germs that don't need to be shared etc. Reinforce it by telling him that he's done well when he does it right, and explain about washing hands to keep ourselves clean of germs. Asking him to explain to Daddy why we need to do our business on the toilet will let you know that he got the message. Bringing it up every so often, like when you're cleaning the dishes free of germs, and when you're getting him ready for bed and cleaning his teeth should bring the idea into focus for him. He's not actually doing anything that a lot of recently toilet trained kids don't do. Try not to worry- it's not unusual, and he'll get over it fast if you talk to him and explain. Just control the anger, or he'll end up frightened and confused. And whatever you do, don't use the words naughty, disgusting, wrong, bad, gross etc....those kinds of words will give him the wrong messgae. Focus on the positive- not being in nappies, knowing what he's supposed to do and point out the mistakes in a calm and loving way. Good luck

I would like to say something honestly, it is just food for thought, not to be rude or anything but you have a 3 year old, that their lifes goal is to do anything they can to learn their surroundings. You also have a responsibility to that child to deal with whatever responsibilities come with him. You cannot just claim he is toilet trained and leave it at that...HE IS 3. He has been on this earth for 3 very short years and doesnt know the ways. So when your more worried about your life and thinking you taught him, he should know it, remember he is only 3 and has no clue he is supposed to do things a certain way. He thinks its another game to poo and pee anywhere he wants, and actually he should be praised, because he IS showing you he didnt go in his pants. He is trying to be a big boy, just a little boy left to his own devices and decided to play his version. If your homework, gets in the way of monitoring your 3 year old childs bathroom habits, then there is an issue. take that few minutes as a bonding time and a break from your homework. Cause let me tell you, once they grow up, thats it. Sorry but i feel very passionate about things when it comes to kids. I am sick of people acting like these kids have been told then they should KNOW it. They are after all kids and just learning what you have taught them. if the severely interfere with your life, then maybe you shouldnt have had him. I am sorry but that is a fact. HE IS ONLY 3. if this offends anyone then report me but i cant accept someone saying that a 3 year olds potty habits severely interfere with a mothers schoolwork... children didnt ask you to have them, you had them, and its your job to take care of them. If he has time to take a crap in a cup, then your not monitering him, and he should not be left alone AT ALL... HE IS 3.

I have to agree with that on many levels....as already mentioned, a 3 year old is new at this game, and the world is an adventure to them. Everything is a discovery, and focusing on the positive is the best thing here, not the negative. Plu, kids do take a long time to become masters of potty training, it takes years before they are 100% reliably accident free. And 3 year old should never be left alone for more than a couple of minutes, say when you go to the bathroom, etc. Other than that, you should always have your eye on them and always know what they;re up to. Especially, they should not be left alone for a long period in a bathroom or kitchen- there are too many things they could hurt themselves with.

I must ask you, would you consider putting your studying on hold for a while, until your little one starts school and you have some free time? As was mentioned, they're not little for long- you only get one shot per kid, the same as they only get one childhood. Maybe he needs you more than you need to do schoolwork for now.........

I think it sounds very normal. Kids experiment and I don't think that kids who are 3 are really independent in the bathroom, even if they are toilet trained, they still need lots of assistance with wiping and handwashing etc. I don't think I would yell at him. I would gently bring him in and explain in children's language about germs and how poop goes in the toilet and we don't touch it because it has germs. Maybe a sticker chart for using the bathroom properly and lots of praise (clapping and a sticker) when he puts poop and pee in the potty and then washes his hands. Good luck. It must be an awful lot to study and have a 3 year old around! HUGS ((()))

you think that is bad i have a 15 year old stepson who wore pull ups till he was 12 now when he uses the bathroom it looks worst than a public toilet at the subway station.always clogged and feces running down the front.he is so bad that no one want him to use their bathrooms.(grandmother,aunts,uncles, friends parents,and the neighbors.)this is very embarrassing.and my wife just makes excuses for him.he steals,lies,is rude disrespectful.and mean to the cats. i live in hell!

wow! as i read your post i was thinking some of the same things kasairalyn mentioned (but maybe not as harsh). it is normal for kids to experiment, and while yelling is not the best way to handle these things, it's very difficult for most parents to stay calm ALL the time. plus you're a student. and you're a member of this site. obviously you didn't come here to be judged, ai? take a step back and be proud that your son is doing this well with potty training at age 3. my son gave me so much trouble with it. but yeah, going with them to supervise every hour or so is just one of those things we have to do. while potty training my daughter (almost 3) i would go with her every time, then i started hearing her just going in by herself, washing her hands when she was done and coming out so proud of herself. just make your bathroom as safe as possible, so when he is ready to go alone, you know he'll be ok. good luck.