Page 205 - The Intentional Parent

Our three-year-old toddler has a terrible fear of flushing the toilet. Every time the toilet flushes, he runs away from the bathroom screaming and crying. I'm afraid that this is going to interfere with his toilet training. What should I do?
I have heard many stories about fears that kids develop during potty training. One three-year-old child I knew would use the potty but refused to let anyone flush the bowl, because he was emotionally attached to his "BMs." As a way of getting him interested in going to the potty, his mom used to tell him stories about his bowel movements, and the two of them used to sit there and name them! I swear this is a true story. Well, the child began to worry about what would happen to his bowel movements after they were flushed, and he refused to let anyone send them away. Go figure.
Your child was probably taken off guard by the noise made by the toilet. The best way to handle the situation would be to wait until he's out of the bathroom, close the door, and muffle the sound of the toilet flushing. In time his fear will pass.
SHYNESS
Our four-year-old daughter is incredibly shy. She will not go up to another child to play, clings to my side, makes poor eye contact with adults who are talking to her—even getting her to say hello to someone is like pulling teeth. Is there any way we can get her out of her shell?
Yes, over time you will see her become less and less shy, but it will be very slow going. Shyness is a trait that is influenced by temperament. Temperament is the genetic contribution to behavior. Shy kids can learn, over time, to be more outgoing, but
The Intentional Parent by Peter J. Favaro, Ph.D. 205