2/22/01
Question 70
Dear Preschool Teacher,
My daughter is 4 years old and in a three day a week part-time
preschool program. My question is should this program have a scheduled
bathroom time when all students go to the restroom? Or should they
just rely on the children asking to go?
Bathroom Troubles
Dear Bathroom
Troubles,
In my preschool the bath room is
available at all times. They just get up and go.
Maureen
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear Bathroom Troubles,
It depends on several
things. If they have a restroom in their room they can let the
children go as needed. If they have to travel down a hallway,
they should have a planned schedule but there will always be a few who
need to go more often. They should always go with an adult and
never under any circumstances should they be sent out of the room
alone! Four
years old is not a responsible age yet. As long as someone can
watch them, they will be fine.
Jackie
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear Bathroom Troubles,
In my preschool, we have a scheduled bathroom time which is about an hour after they arrive. I feel if the kids go to the bathroom BEFORE they leave home (and I send home a letter asking parents to have their children go to the bathroom before they leave home. Sometimes I think at preschool is the first time they've gone since they woke up!) that the child should be able to go for an hour without going to the bathroom.
Our bathroom is not in our room, so when child has to go to the bathroom it takes an adult out of the room and away from projects we're working on etc. Some days all the kids are able to wait and I make a big deal how they were able to wait. Other days it seems like all we do is take kids to the bathroom. For obvious reasons, I don't tell a child no if they ask to go to the bathroom.
Peg
"Ask The Preschool Teacher
Staff"
Dear Bathroom Troubles,
In my class we go to the bathroom ever 30
min. Because I teach a 3 year old class and they need to use the
bathroom a lot more. I ask that all the children try to use the
bathroom. If we are in the middle of something and a child needs to go
to the
bathroom I let them . Some children want to go to the bathroom just to
play. Usually you can tell if a child really needs to go, or if they
are going just to play. We teach them to go with the other class, so
they will be prepared for "BIG SCHOOL".
Roni
"Ask The Preschool
Teacher Staff"
Dear Bathroom Troubles,
At our preschool the kids just need to
ask us. Then we will ask the others if anyone else has to use the
bathroom. Our bathroom isn't in our room so we have to take the
children there.
Lynn
"Ask The Preschool
Teacher Staff"
Dear Bathroom
Troubles,
In my 4 year old class my students
are capable of taking care of their own bathroom needs usually. Before
our snack time I send them to the bathroom room with the instructions
of "go to the bathroom if you need to, and everyone wash their
hands with soap." If I have a child that has had a few
accidents, try to watch them more closely for signs of need and
encourage
them to go.
Kris
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear Bathroom Troubles,
The answer to you question depends on the
physical setting of your pre-school. If the bathroom is not in
the area of the room that can be easily supervised, and there is not
enough staff to take the children to the washroom, then there should
be a scheduled bathroom break several times during the pre-school
program. However, if the washroom is closely available, I feel
it is important to allow the children to use it when they need to.
During the transition time between circle time and snack, we
always sing a song and the children go to the washroom to wash hands
and are encouraged to use the washroom at that time. We have
found over the years that no two children's needs are ever the same!
If the procedure at the pre-school is a concern to you, please do not
hesitate to ask the teachers the reason for how they provide for
bathroom breaks, and share with them any concerns you may have.
I hope this helps.
Laura
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear Bathroom Troubles,
I
teach 4 year olds in my center and the children go to the bathroom as
they need to. The only scheduled time that they must try to go to the
bathroom is right after lunch which is right before nap time. The 3
year old classroom does make scheduled trips to the bathroom through
out the day because some of them are still potty training.
Lisa
"Ask The Preschool
Teacher Staff"
