Practical Skills for Pre-school

Toileting for school

Some children may experience difficulty with toilet training, and be later developing these skills than their peers.

There are several reasons why bottom-wiping may be particularly difficult for your child to do:

• They may not have the ability to balance while sitting on the toilet.

• They may not be able to take their hands behind their body to wipe.

• They may not be aware of where their bottom is to wipe!

• Both feet should be placed firmly on the floor, providing the child with a stable base. If this is not

possible, provide a step for the child to place his feet on.

• Telephone books bound together can make a step.

• Having a hand rail to hold provides stability.

• The child should be able to reach behind their body and under their legs in order to bottom-wipe.

• Pass the ball or balloon around the body passing from one hand to the other.

• Pass a small ball or balloon around the legs in a figure of eight.

• Stick stickers on different places on your child’s body – front and back and get your child to find the

stickers.

• Use wet wipes or toilet wipes so that your child is able to clean better.

• Buttons and zips are best kept to a minimum.

• Have regular toilet times to get your child into a routine such as at every break and lunchtime.

• Make sure there is toilet paper near to your child so he can reach out while sitting on the toilet.

• Provide school with a spare pair of pants if accidents are happening.

• Use wet wipes at home.

• Practice using toilet paper at home; scrunching or folding and the wiping action.

• Laminate a card with targets on it - place chocolate spread or smooth peanut butter in the middle and

encourage your child to wipe it off without spreading out to the outside areas away from the red centre.