Mompreneur hopes to take invention to Walmart

A local “mompreneur” is helping parents successfully navigate the sometimes tricky task of potty training their children with her invention.

Jill Leech showcasing her product Potty Tots Potty Training program at a recent tradeshow. (Contributed image)

After Temecula resident Jill Leech and her husband adopted a little girl from China, they realized she was exhibiting some behaviors associated with Reactive Attachment Disorder, Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

“I was having a particularly difficult time potty training her so I went to a parenting class to learn how to handle the issue,” Leech said.

She said that the instructor suggested a visual chart to show her daughter what was expected.

“I searched the internet and couldn’t find a suitable chart,” Leech said. “I also noticed that there weren’t many books or charts with children of color.”

So, Leech took matter into her own hands and made her daughter an illustrated potty chart with six simple steps about potty training.

“She loved that the girl in the chart looked just like her,” Leech explained. “I could see her gaining confidence.”

After friends and family had success with the chart, Leech knew she was on to something big.

Using her background in psychology, a fierce entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to help others she developed Potty Tots Potty Training Program.

She explained when she was a little girl she was very creative and made up scavenger hunts and games for her birthday parties.

“When I became a teacher, I knew that when I taught history I had to make it come to life with kids dressing in costumes and acting out history,” she said.

She translated that notion to her line of products making a game out of helping people potty train their children.

“The purpose of the product is to make potty training fun and easy for toddlers to understand and to promote independence, which builds confidence and self esteem,” Leech explained.

The kit includes a storybook, animated DVD with original songs, illustrated potty chart and a football-inspired progress game.

Leech recently entered a Walmart contest to try and get the product on the shelves of the mega-store.

“If I win I will use the money to advertise Potty Tots and expand our line of products,” Leech said enthusiastically.

She is also in the process of developing a Potty Tots app for the iPad and iPhone.

Stephanie D. Schulte is a writer/photographer with SWRNN.  She can be reached at stephanie.schulte@swrnn.com.