Being able to use the bathroom by themselves, in my opinion (and in my classroom), is a requirement for kindergarten readiness. It is also a key step in your child’s independence. Here are a few key things to ensure success in this area.
First, dress your child for bathroom success, in clothes that they can manage by themselves. If they cannot button, snap or zip then dress them in clothes that have elastic or Velcro. The same goes for girls with dresses and skirts. If they cannot manage them properly then please save those clothes for special occasions when you can help. I have witnessed too many times when children come out of the bathroom stalls almost in tears because they could not zip or button their pants, their pretty dresses got wet, or their tights were still down around their ankles.
Second, make sure they know to flush, and that they know school toilets operate differently than the ones in your house. The industrial toilets that are in most schools flush faster and louder than home ones and some children might get frightened by the noise. I have seen children hold their hands over their ears while trying to flush the toilet with their elbow, and then try to run out of the stall before the toilet flushes.
And lastly, make sure they know to wash their hands before leaving the bathroom, which is important for their and their classmates health. Hand washing with soap should last for at least 20 seconds, getting the front and back and in between all fingers. Singing the ABC song while washing their hands is a good way to help them learn how long to wash. That is what the puppies do in Kalvin and Kaiser’s Very Busy Day:
And lastly, teach your child to use a paper towel to turn the water off if the faucets are not automatic.
