How to Make Potty Training Boys More Fun

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Potty Training Boys

📝 This post, How to Make Potty Training Boys More Fun, was originally published in 2012 and has been updated with new information and ideas.

If you’re wondering how to make potty training boys more fun, you’re definitely not alone. After potty training two very different little boys, I learned that every child has their own timeline and their own personality. Sometimes the best thing you can do is turn another trip to the bathroom into a game!

My oldest? He made it look easy.

One morning he announced, “Today is potty training day!” He grabbed a stack of books, marched into the bathroom, and shut the door. About 30 minutes later—yes, you read that right—he walked out and proudly declared, “That’s it! I’m potty trained.”

And…he was.

Just like that.

I remember thinking, Wow! This potty training thing isn’t nearly as hard as everyone makes it out to be.

Then my youngest came along.

Let’s just say he had very different plans.

Suddenly I found myself reading everything I could get my hands on about potty training boys. I was hoping someone had discovered a magical secret since I’d trained my oldest. Maybe there was a new technique, a foolproof method, or even a pediatrician somewhere who had finally figured out the exact formula for potty training success.

No such luck.

Most of what I found was the same advice I’d read just a few years earlier. Every child develops at their own pace, watch for signs of readiness, be patient…you know the drill. I kept reading anyway because, honestly, I was still hoping someone had hidden the magic answer somewhere on the internet.

Eventually I stumbled across something that made me laugh.

It wasn’t really about potty training at all. It was an article about whether boys should learn to pee standing up or sitting down. We were definitely starting with sitting, but one section caught my attention—a list of fun ways to teach boys to aim.

And that’s when it hit me.

Maybe the real trick wasn’t just getting little boys to use the toilet. Maybe it was making the whole experience fun enough that they actually wanted to practice.

Some of these ideas are great for helping boys learn to aim, but they’re also a fun way to keep potty training interesting. Anything that turns another trip to the bathroom into a game is worth trying in my book!

Fun Ways to Make Potty Training Boys More Fun

These ideas aren’t magic (I wish!), but they can make potty training a whole lot more fun—and sometimes that’s exactly what little boys need.

Sink the Battleship

Float small pieces of toilet paper, Cheerios, or even little toilet targets in the bowl and challenge your son to “sink the battleships.” It’s amazing how much more exciting a trip to the bathroom becomes when it’s a game.

Make the Water Change Color

Drop a little blue food coloring (or use a toilet-safe cleaning tablet) in the bowl. When your son pees, he’ll love watching the water turn green. Science and potty training all at once!

Make Bubbles

Add a small squirt of shampoo to the toilet water before he goes. Watching bubbles appear can be surprisingly motivating for little boys.

Practice Outside

If you have a backyard or a safe outdoor space, let him practice aiming outside. Boys love trying to hit leaves, sticks, or writing their names in the snow during the winter.

Have a Peeing Party

Sometimes the best teacher is Dad—or an older brother. If your family is comfortable with it, let the boys have a “peeing party” and practice together. Little brothers often love copying the big guys.

Use Fun Toilet Targets

There are all kinds of reusable toilet targets you can buy, or you can simply make your own from toilet paper or washable paper dots. Giving boys something to aim at turns practice into play.

Celebrate the Little Wins

Potty training is a big milestone. A high five, sticker, special dance, or lots of praise can go a long way toward helping your child feel proud of each success.

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💚 A Little Update on Potty Training Boys

Looking back now with two teenage boys, I can happily report that we survived potty training!

That said…every now and then I walk into the bathroom and seriously consider dropping a few Cheerios in the toilet or coloring the water blue again. Apparently, learning to aim isn’t something you completely master at age three. 😂

Boy moms, I have a feeling you know exactly what I’m talking about.