FUMP Toilet Learning
Learning to use the toilet is a big step in children’s development, yet it can be a challenging stage for both parents and teachers. Many parents look to teachers for help and support in teaching their children to use the toilet. It is in the children’s best interests to have parents and teachers understand and use good toilet-training practices.
Both parents and teachers are often eager for children to be out of diapers. Most parents and teachers use the developmental approach, looking for signs that the child is ready for toilet training. But sometimes parents and teachers may not be in agreement. Parents may want their child trained at a very early age, while their teacher may feel the child is not ready yet. The reverse case may also be true. Children’s progress may be much slower when toileting efforts between home and preschool are not in agreement.
It is best if parents and teachers can approach teaching children to use the toilet as a team. The child will do best when teachers and parents agree on strategies and help each other accomplish goals. It’s especially helpful if parents and teachers agree on when a child is ready to begin toilet training and what basic approaches they will use.
When should parents or teachers begin to teach children to use the toilet? It is important for parents and caregivers to understand how children develop physically in regards to toileting. Child development research describes how children’s bladder control development occurs in several distinct steps: filling the bladder, desire to void, postponement of voiding, and bladder refilling. Children need to develop mastery of each step in this complex process. It also describes approximate timelines for children’s toileting development. These timelines are approximate and vary greatly for individual children.
- 15 months: children often point to wet clothing and demand to be changed
- 18-24 months: children often have words to describe feces and urine
- 2.5 to 3 years: children can announce the need to urinate in time to be taken to the toilet
- 3+ years: children can delay urination for a short while.
It is important to note that there is almost a two-year time span between the age when children begin to recognize when they have wet and when they can actually wait to urinate. Many adults expect children to be able to function like adults much sooner than most children actually can. Teachers can help parents by sharing developmental signs of readiness. Signs to look for include:
- Children can point to wet or soiled clothes and ask to be changed.
- Children can stay dry for longer periods of time, or overnight.
- Children have words for using the toilet.
- Children can stand and sit well on their own.
- Children can pull pants up and down for themselves.
There is more to toilet training than just physical maturity. For children to be successful, they also need the ability to understand instructions and the willingness to comply with adults. If children are experiencing a strong streak of independence or negativity, toilet training might best be delayed for a while. When children observe other children or adult family members using the toilet, they will often want to imitate this behavior.
Other basic strategies that parents and teachers should discuss are the use of praise and rewards for using the toilet, transitioning from diapers to underpants, the use of pull-up diapers, and strategies for gaining cooperation.
In general, most authorities recommend that children be allowed to use the potty frequently, for brief periods of time. Encourage children to sit on the potty after naps and about 45 minutes after meals or snacks. If children refuse, they should not be forced. If children are coerced, they will often refuse to cooperate any further. Instead, encourage children by providing books to look at while sitting, and let the child decide when to get up. Children will often have accidents. It is quite normal for four-year-olds to still occasionally have an accident. Adults should make comments like, “I see you have had an accident. That’s ok. I know you will learn how to use the toilet. You are trying hard. It will be better next time.” It is important for teachers to model this positive encouragement for parents.
It is very important for parents to realize that physical punishment like spanking or other practices don’t help children learn to use the toilet any faster. In fact, these punishments often slow down the process because children become afraid to try.
Schools and teachers can be a wealth of support and information on toilet training for parents. By modeling good behavior and using open communication, much valuable information can be shared. Teachers may also want to suggest other educational resources to parents. There are many helpful books on the topic, for parents and for children.
Recommended Books
Parent’s Book Of Toilet Teaching by Cole
Your New Potty by Cole
Once Upon A Potty by Frankel
Toilet Learning by Mack
I Have To Go by Ross & Norman Gorbaty
Toilet Training Without Tears Schaefer & Foy Digeronomo.
DOCUMENT USE/COPYRIGHT
Adapted from: National Network for Child Care – NNCC. Part of CYFERNET, the National Extension Service Children Youth and Family Educational Research Network. Helping children learn to use the toilet. University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service.