Potty training is the worst. Mr. Rogers is the best. PBS Kids's animated television show Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood — which, per the Fred Rogers Company "builds on the pioneering PBS series, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood" — has a new potty-training app, Stop & Go Potty (February 2016; iOS and Android), starring the Daniel Tiger characters.

The home screen features Daniel Tiger singing a cheery little potty-ditty: "When you have to go potty / Stop and go right away. / Flush and wash / And be on your way!" Enter the app to be greeted in the Tiger living room ("Hi, neighbor!") by Daniel's mother and baby sister, Margaret, and his kitty friend Katerina. Children are prompted to engage in an activity with the characters: stacking blocks with Katerina and Daniel, for example. (The "For Parents" section describes how each activity fosters "Play with a Purpose.") After a short while, Daniel realizes he has to use the potty. He doesn't want to stop playing, but Katerina urges Daniel to take care of business.



Tap on the potty icon to transport Daniel to the bathroom, then help him with the steps: "Can you hand me some toilet paper please? Don't forget to wipe!"



Flush, wash hands (soap up, scrub, fill the sink, rinse), then it's back to playing. "I'm back!" says Daniel. "And all the blocks are right where I left them!"

In the living room, you can tap the potty book on the shelf and watch four little toilet-themed music videos; in one, creatures of all genders hop into side-by-side stalls, no biggie, then wash their hands together.

Whether this (anything?!) will get not-yet-ready-for-it toddlers to ditch the diapers is debatable. But this could be an entertaining diversion while you wait. You could also check out Oceanhouse Media’s Once upon a Potty app based on the book by Alona Frankel. And click here for some new potty-book recommendations. Happy going!

Available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch (requires iOS 8.0 or later) and Android devices (requires Android 4.4 and up); $2.99. Recommended for preschool users.

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