The challenge of potty training represents a universal milestone that nearly every parent faces, often with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. According to a nationwide survey of 500 U.S. parents conducted by Moonbug Entertainment in May 2025, nearly 6 in 10 parents identify potty training as their toughest parenting challenge. Addressing this widespread concern, CoComelon has launched an innovative approach to supporting families through this developmental phase with their Gotta Go Zones—immersive, potty-themed events that transform a typically stressful experience into an opportunity for celebration and community connection.
A New Approach to Developmental Milestones
The Gotta Go Zone initiative represents a significant expansion of CoComelon’s broader CoComelon Can Help campaign, which focuses on providing practical tools and resources for families navigating everyday parenting challenges. This summer, the “Gotta Go Zone” rolls into LA, Nashville, and NYC—turning potty training into a celebration with music, games, and support. The program combines entertainment, education, and practical resources to create a comprehensive support system for families.
The initiative launched on June 21 at Griffith Park’s Travel Town in Los Angeles, where actress and mother Ashley Tisdale joined families for the inaugural event. Tisdale, mother to daughters Jupiter and Emerson, brought personal experience to the campaign. “Potty training can feel overwhelming for the whole family, but CoComelon actually makes it much more fun for kids and parents too!” says Ashley Tisdale. “Jupiter loves to perform, so she’d sing ‘Go Before You Go’ and ‘The Potty Training Song’ while learning to use the potty.”
Physical Spaces Designed for Success
The centerpiece of each Gotta Go Zone is a specially designed family restroom that considers the unique needs of toddlers learning this essential life skill. These facilities feature step stools, a soap bar, and sensory play that make potty training a playful adventure. The thoughtful design acknowledges that successful potty training often depends on creating an environment where children feel comfortable and empowered.
These custom restrooms go beyond basic functionality. The spaces incorporate familiar CoComelon characters and themes, creating a welcoming atmosphere that reduces anxiety commonly associated with public restroom use during the potty training phase. Parents frequently report that one of the most challenging aspects of potty training involves managing the process outside the home, making these specially designed facilities particularly valuable for families.
Musical Tools for Learning
Central to the Gotta Go Zone experience are the musical resources that have become synonymous with CoComelon’s educational approach. The brand’s potty training content has already demonstrated significant reach and impact, with the “Potty Training Song” topping 420 million YouTube views and “I Can Do It On My Own” quickly climbing to 2 million. These numbers reflect not just popularity but the genuine utility parents find in these musical tools.
The events feature live music where these songs are played, creating shared experiences where children can see peers engaging with the same content they use at home. Live music and sing-alongs featuring CoComelon’s favorite potty training songs provide opportunities for children to connect the lessons from screen-based content to real-world applications.
New additions to the potty training repertoire include “When You Gotta Go,” which encourages children to listen to their bodies and use the potty even when away from home. The song addresses a common challenge: helping children recognize and respond to physical cues regardless of their environment or current activity.
Community Engagement and Support
Beyond the physical infrastructure and musical elements, the Gotta Go Zones function as community gathering spaces where families can connect over shared experiences. The events include music, activity stations, giveaways, character meet and greets, creating multiple touchpoints for engagement.
The kickoff events, running from 10 AM to 2 PM, offer the full range of activities and resources. However, the commitment to community support extends beyond these initial celebrations. The CoComelon “Gotta Go Zone” family restroom will remain open for public use at Griffith Park through Friday, June 27, ensuring ongoing access to these specially designed facilities.
Character meet-and-greets with JJ, the recognizable face of CoComelon, provide children with tangible connections to the educational content they consume at home. These interactions help reinforce the positive associations with potty training that the brand works to establish through its media content.
Professional Resources and Expert Guidance
Recognizing that parents need more than entertainment to successfully navigate potty training, the potty training party initiative includes access to professional resources. Expert Tips – Advice from a certified potty training consultant available free on CoComelon.com ensures that families have access to evidence-based strategies alongside the entertaining content.
The program also acknowledges the emotional toll that challenging parenting moments can take. 1-844-TOTLINE – A humor hotline for parents who need a laugh during life’s messiest moments provides a unique form of support, recognizing that sometimes parents simply need a little humor in difficult situations.
Printable activity sheets and educational materials distributed at the events extend the learning beyond the immediate experience. These resources allow families to continue reinforcing concepts at home, creating consistency between event experiences and daily routines.
Strategic Expansion to Major Markets
The geographic rollout of Gotta Go Zones demonstrates strategic planning aimed at reaching diverse populations in major metropolitan areas. Following the Los Angeles launch, Nashville- July 5-11 at Centennial Park and New York- July 20- 25 at Jones Beach State Park will host their own installations.
Each location selection considers factors like accessibility, family traffic patterns, and community needs. The choice of public parks and recreational areas ensures that the events remain accessible to diverse socioeconomic groups, aligning with CoComelon’s mission to support all families regardless of background.
The timing during National Potty Training Month demonstrates awareness of seasonal patterns in child development milestones. Many families begin potty training during summer months when warmer weather and lighter clothing make the process more manageable, making the summer tour schedule particularly relevant.
Measuring Impact Through Engagement
The success of CoComelon’s potty training content provides measurable evidence of its impact on families. The billions of views accumulated by potty training-related videos indicate not just passive consumption but active use of these resources in homes worldwide. The free family-friendly event represents an evolution of this digital success into physical community spaces.
Event attendance requires advance registration, allowing organizers to gauge community interest and ensure appropriate resource allocation. The free admission policy removes financial barriers to participation, though some elements like snacks and giveaways are available while supplies last.
Long-term Vision for Family Support
The Gotta Go Zone initiative exemplifies a broader trend in children’s media: the expansion from screen-based content to comprehensive family support systems. By addressing one of parents’ most commonly cited challenges through multiple channels—digital content, physical events, expert resources, and community building—CoComelon demonstrates understanding of modern family needs.
The sustained availability of the special restroom facilities beyond the kickoff events shows a commitment to ongoing community support rather than one-time promotional activities. This approach builds trust with families who may return to use the facilities throughout their potty training journey.
As potty training remains a universal challenge crossing cultural and socioeconomic boundaries, initiatives like the Gotta Go Zones provide models for how children’s media brands can extend their impact beyond entertainment into meaningful family support. The combination of evidence-based resources, community engagement, and practical infrastructure creates a comprehensive approach to supporting families through significant developmental milestones.
The tour’s progression through major U.S. cities during summer 2025 will likely provide valuable data on community engagement with educational entertainment brands. As families continue seeking resources that combine entertainment with practical support, programs like the Gotta Go Zones may represent the future of children’s media, where digital content serves as just one component of a larger ecosystem supporting child development and family well-being.
