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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 (shirt, pants/skirt, 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.
Sample Preschool and TK Classroom Schedules for Reference
Sample AM Preschool Daily Schedule
8:45 am Arrival, Greeting, Opportunity for Toileting, Handwashing
9:00 am Breakfast
9:20 am Morning Meeting
9:30 am Learning Centers & Small Groups
10:30 am Opportunity for Toileting & Handwashing
10:40 am Outdoor Learning & Physical Development
11:10 am Read Aloud
11:20 am Music & Movement
11:35 am Closing Circle, Opportunity for Toileting & Handwashing
11:45 am Dismissal
Sample PM Preschool Daily Schedule
12:15 pm Arrival, Greeting, Opportunity for Toileting, Handwashing
12:25 pm Lunch
12:50 pm Afternoon Meeting
1:00 pm Learning Centers & Small Groups
2:00 pm Opportunity for Toileting & Handwashing
2:10 pm Outdoor Learning & Physical Development
2:40 pm Read Aloud
2:50 pm Music & Movement
3:05 pm Closing Circle, Opportunity for Toileting & Handwashing
3:15 pm Dismissal
Sample TK Daily Schedule
8:30 am Arrival, Soft Start, Opportunity for Toileting & Handwashing
8:50 am Morning Meeting & Community Building
9:10 am Snack & Outdoor Recess
9:40 am Opportunity for Toileting & Handwashing
9:45 am Discovery Centers & Small Group Instruction
10:45 am Math Mini-Lesson & Math Centers
11:20 am Movement & Heggerty
11:45 am Lunch & Outdoor Recess
12:30 pm Opportunity for Toileting & Handwashing
12:35 pm Read Aloud & Extension Activity
1:05 pm Discovery Centers / Content Area Learning
2:00 pm STEAM, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, or Health
2:30 pm Opportunity for Toileting & Handwashing
2:35 pm Closing Circle & Community Building
3:00 pm Dismissal
What is the definition of being toilet independent?
A child who is toileting independent:
Comes to school in cloth underwear.
Can communicate their need to use the restroom.
Can use the toilet independently by pulling down their pants, using the toilet, wiping, pulling up their pants, flushing the toilet, and washing their hands.
Occasional accidents are expected as children transition to a new school environment. Families can help prepare their child by practicing these skills at home, including changing clothes independently, placing soiled clothing in a plastic bag, wiping themselves, disposing of used wipes or toilet paper in the trash (if appropriate), getting dressed independently, and washing their hands.
For TK's who are not fully toilet independent:
School staff, in partnership with families, should develop a support plan that may include:
Developing a consistent toileting schedule at school and at home.
Using positive reinforcement, such as praise and encouragement or reward system, to celebrate successes.
Sharing a photo of the toileting steps chart used at school to promote consistency between home and school.
Families providing extra clothing, wipes, plastic bags, and other necessary supplies.
Developing a three-deep staffing plan to ensure the student is consistently supported throughout their toilet learning process.
FAQs
In the past, SDUSD required toileting independence for general education pupils in Pre-K only. A change in state legislation does not permit districts to deny enrollment to incoming TK or Kindergarten students if they have not yet achieved toileting independence. 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 TK students have to be toileting independent?
A: Although students who are not yet toileting independent cannot be denied enrollment, SDUSD strongly urges parents to support their child in toilet learning during the summer before starting TK. For some children, it is not possible to achieve toileting independence, and therefore, the school will partner with families to help support the child's toilet learning.
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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