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As a parent, guardian, or caregiver you know your child best. We, the school staff, are here to partner with you to assist your child in reaching their highest potential. Toileting is a complex process and every child has a unique journey to toileting independence. Partnering with your child's classroom teacher, health office staff, and principal will help make the journey more positive.
Parents and caregivers can help by:
Encouraging your child with praise and patience during the learning process.
Communicating with school staff about where your child is on the journey to toileting independence.
Encouraging your child to become as independent as possible with all activities of daily living such as eating, dressing, and toileting.
Reading books and talking about becoming independent with toileting.
Practicing toileting independence at home.
Ensuring a change of clothing (bottom, top, underwear, and socks) is in your child's backpack everyday.
You may want to fill out this Toileting Questionnaire and give to your teacher so they can help by getting to know your child even more:
Parent/Guardian Partnership Toileting Questionnaire
Check out this video with toileting expert Joan Morgenstern:
Toilet Mastery in the School Setting - SDUSD Webinar by Joan Morgenstern September 18, 2024
Routines and schedules can help young children reach independence with toileting. Here is a sample classroom schedule. Parents and guardians are encouraged to keep toileting routines at home similar to school days. Please ask your classroom teacher about your child's daily schedule.
CA State Preschool Sample Schedule
Sample State Preschool Schedule for Reference
AM Session 7:45-10:45
7:45 Arrival, Sign In, Handwashing , opportunity to use toilet
7:50 Soft Start time
8:00-Breakfast
8:15-Whole Group-Phonemic Awareness & Social Emotional Skills
Toilet break
8:30-Centers time content area focused (math, literacy, science, etc)
9:30- Physical Development - work on targeted gross motor skills
Outside Play
Toilet break
10:00-Read Aloud
10:25-Music and Movement
10:45 Dismissal
PM Session 11:15-2:15
11:15 Arrival, Sign In, Handwashing, opportunity to use toilet
11:20 Soft Start time
11:30 Whole Group-Phonemic Awareness & Social Emotional Skills
Toilet break
11:45-Lunch
12:15-Physical Development - work on targeted gross motor skills
Outside Play
Toilet break
12:45 Read Aloud
1:00 Centers time content area focused (math, literacy, science, etc)
Toilet break
2:00-Music and Movement
2:15 Dismissal
Transitional KindergartenSample Schedule
8:55 am Soft Start time
9:10 am Morning meeting & Songs
9:20 am Recess
Bathroom break
9:45 am Literacy & Fine Motor Activities
Bathroom break
10:45 am Math Number Talk & Lesson
11:15am Lunch & Recess
Bathroom break
12:00 pm Read Aloud & Activity
12:30 pm Centers content area focused
Bathroom break
1:30 pm Science/Social Studies Activities
2:00 pm Art/Music/Health
Bathroom break
2:40 pm Closing activities
3:10 pm Dismissal
What is the definition of being toilet independent?
Comes to school in cloth underwear.
Can communicate their need to use the restroom.
Can use the toilet independently: pull down pants, use the toilet, wipe, pull up pants, flush the toilet, and wash hands.
Occasional accidents are expected as children transition to a new school environment. Parents can help their children cope with the occasional accident by practicing at home. Have the child change their clothes, practice placing soiled clothes in a plastic bag, wiping themselves, placing wipes or toilet paper in the trash, dressing themselves, and washing their hands.
For TK's who are not fully toilet independent:
School staff in partnership with families should develop a support plan which could include:
Develop a consistent toileting schedule at school and home.
Use of a reward system and praise for successes.
School shares photo of Toileting steps chart that student uses at school for consistency.
Families provide extra clothes, wipes, plastic bags, etc.
School staff should develop a three deep staffing approach to ensure the student is supported in their toileting journey.
FAQ's
In the past, SDUSD required potty training for general education pupils in Pre-K only. A change in state legislation does not permit districts to deny enrollment to incoming TKs or kindergarteners if they are not fully potty trained. Students in Pre-K, TK, and Kindergarten are now admitted to Early Learning Programs regardless of toileting independence. Pupils with IEPs likewise cannot be denied enrollment in Pre-K or TK.
Q: Do TKs have to be potty-trained?
A: Although non-toileting independent students cannot be denied enrollment, SDUSD strongly urges parents to support their child in toilet training the summer before starting in TK. For some children, it is not possible to be fully toilet trained and therefore, the school will partner with families to help support the students' toileting journey.
Q: How can a parent request a meeting with the classroom staff?
A: Parents/guardians can reach out to school staff via email or before or after school and request to meet. Parents can talk to a teacher before or after pick up/drop off, call the school office and leave a message with front office staff, or email the teacher.
Helpful Websites:
HealthyChildren.Org - American Academy of Pediatrics
TheReadyChild.Org - Bathroom Independence
First5SanDiego.Org - Resources and Support for Parents
Books for Parents and Educators
Potty Mastery, A Child-Centered Approach to Toileting, Joan Morgenstern with Dr. Becky Bailey
Oh Crap! Potty Training: Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It Right, Jamie Glowacki
The First-Time Parent's Guide to Potty Training: How to Ditch Diapers Fast (and for Good!), Jazmine McCoy
Success with Potty Training: No Potty Training Seat, No Pull-Ups, No Training Underwear, Beth Allen
Toilet Training in Less Than a Day, Nathan H. Azrin, Ph.D. and Richard M. Foxx, Ph.D.
Ready, Set, Potty! Toilet Training for Children with Autism and Other
Developmental Disorders, Brenda Batts
Stress-Free Potty Training, Sara AU & Peter L. Stavinoha, PH.D.
Children’s Books for Use at Home and in the Classroom
Potty Bacinica, Leslie Patricelli
Everyone Poops, Taro Gomi
Diapers are Not Forever/Los Panales No son para Siempre (English and Spanish edition), Elizabeth Verdick
A Potty for Me!, Karen Katz
Pottysaurus, Brooke Vitale
I'm A Potty Superhero, Mabel Forsyth
Potty Time with Pete the Kitty, Kimberly and James Dean
The Potty Story: Girl's Edition, Agnes Green
The Potty Story: Boy’s Edition, Agnes Green
Superstar Potty Training Book for Girls, Violet Giannone
Superstar Potty Training Book for Boys, Violet Giannone
Unicorn Potty: Learn to Potty with Unicorn, Laura Gates Galvin
Once Upon a Potty, Alona Frankel
Daniel Goes to the Potty, adapted by Maggie Testa
Daniel’s Potty Time, adapted by Alexandra Cassel Schwartz
Fiona’s Little Accident, Rosemary Wells
Clayton Parker Really Really has to Pee, Cinco Paul
Raj’s Rule (For the Bathroom at School), Lana Button
Potty Train your Dragon: How to Potty Train Your Dragon Who is Scared to Poop, Steve Herman
Dash’s Belly Ache, a book for children who can’t or won’t poop, Wendy Hayden
P is for Potty, PI Kid
Informational Podcasts:
Potty Mastery - Conscious Disciple with Joan Morgenstern
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