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Article School toilets for a first timer

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Last week thousands of five year olds heaved oversized backpacks onto their tiny bodies and trotted off to school for the first time.

A common concern for parents of first timers is their child’s ability to negotiate the school toilets.

For some parents, the risk of their child having an “accident” in the classroom or on the way to the toilets is of even greater concern.

Their fears are not unfounded; a 2000 Australian survey of 2,856 children found that nearly 20 per cent had experienced daytime incontinence in the previous six months. Further to this, a 2005 study revealed that constipation, one of the main causes of faecal and urinary incontinence, affected up to 30 per cent of children.

In response to the high incidence of urinary incontinence in primary schools, and the real risk of lifelong poor toileting habits starting at school, the Continence Foundation of Australia launched the Toilet Tactics Kit – a dynamic and interactive educational resource, which is part of its Healthy Bladder and Bowel Habits in Schools project.

Recently the 1000th Australian primary school signed up for Toilet Tactics, and parents of first-timers at these schools will have their anxieties allayed.

One of the most recent schools to register is Currans Hill Public School in Sydney. Principal Lyn Flegg, who had already implemented Toilet Tactics at her previous school, Warwick Farm Public School, is such a strong advocate for the program that she pushed for its introduction at Currans Hill.

Mrs Flegg said the programme was introduced to children at her previous school from day one, and was now firmly embedded into the school’s culture.

“It was utilised by classroom teachers, particularly at the start of the year with the little children from kindergarten.

Often the children are not fully toilet trained, and it becomes the responsibility of the school,” Mrs Flegg said.

She said the programme’s strength was that it set up an attitude of normalcy around toileting.

“Just as we help children with reading or literacy, we also help with their bodies, their health and their toileting. It’s not a big deal for children and it’s not embarrassing.”

Ms Flegg said the impact on teachers was just as important. “I noticed an increase in confidence in teachers. The programme provided them with the tools to be able to address these sensitive situations, and it definitely gave us strategies to support the increasing needs of parents.”

The Toilet Tactics Kit also includes a checklist for school toilets, which pupils and teachers work through together to ensure the school toilets are safe, private and well maintained.

While it is understood there are many causes of incontinence in children, it is also understood that lifelong behaviours and attitudes begin early, which is why children, their parents and teachers are all targeted by this project.

The Continence Foundation’s project officer Danyel Walker said schools were finding out about the Toilet Tactics through teachers, parents and health professionals who had witnessed the good outcomes.

“Parents can ask their teachers if the school is signed up for Toilet Tactics, and request the school contact the Continence Foundation of Australia if they aren’t.

“Feedback has been fantastic and comments from schools highlight the user-friendliness of the kit,” Ms Walker said.

The Continence Foundation of Australia welcomes enquiries from parents, teachers and health professionals. Phone the free National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66 for more information.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com
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  • I used to love the school toilets when I was in primary. They were also used to store stuff in and I enjoyed rifling through it all every now and then

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  • looking nice

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  • Sounds like a great idea my middle child had quite a lot of issues with toileting in his first school year.

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  • it s a nice story

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  • my daughter has taken to this pretty well. i did have this concern initially but then seeing as she has no issue with toileting at home it soon eased. my main issue was going to the toilet alone, but as they take friends to toilet with them and dont go it alone i feel much more confident

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  • Such a important thing to get right from day one

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  • it s very important

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  • it is important to get them training

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  • i think every parent has these worries! Yet another great and informitive article!

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  • yeah i think that my kid will be fine though

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  • I’m still waiting for my little one to get out of his nappies! Hopefully it will be soon!

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  • This was never anything I even thought about with my kids. Interesting.

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  • Fantastic idea – thanks for sharing

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  • Well done
    Excellent idea!

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  • What a great idea. I back it!

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  • The kit looks great. My daughter is in year 1 this year but last year in reception we packed spare clothes and underwear. She sometimes has trouble getting to the toilet on time.

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  • Thankyou so much for such an informative article, mine doesn’t start till next year but I am printing this out to keep for then. I also have many friends who have a little one who has just started school for the first time this year and I will be refering this article to them who also have these concerns.

    • Wow, thanks for helping spread the word! It makes so much sense when you realise that bad habits and/or anxieties about going to the toilet start so young.

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  • Thankyou for this article, I have an inherited bladder condition, and require to go to the toilet frequently, I underwent several surgeries as a child and when I went to primary school toilet breaks were regimented, I still recall mum going to the teacher and having to explain that I needed unrestricted access to the toilet, but it was most times to difficult for the teacher despite the toilets being next door in the same building, But no child should have to hang on, especially little girls, it puts them at risk of infection etc, and lets face it toileting is as natural as eating and drinking, we just do not talk about it, kudos to the schools that are introducing these programs, not before time, I am still traumatized by my primary schooling toileting problems, and this should be extended thru all years as no one no matter what age should be deprived of using a toilet,

    • You have an amazing story, and are a perfect example of why schools need to take on Toilet Tactics. As part of my job at the Continence Foundation of Australia, I write articles for our consumer magazine, Bridge, (read it online by doing a search for Bridge and Continence Foundation of Australia). I think your story would be a brilliant one to include in a future edition about Toilet Tactics. Email me directly at bridge@continence.org.au if you\’re interested. Cheers, Maria

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  • We were taught by our parents to go to the toilet and wash our hands after every meal or snack. That got us into the habit before we started school. It is a good idea for a child to carry a spare pair in their school bag in a waterproof bag. That way if the spare pair is needed the wet pair can be put in the waterproof do-up bag to stop the “moisture” escaping.

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  • Thanks for this wonderful article, popped over to the link and took a look, will be showing my daughter (who is a school teacher ) this, just in case they are not familiar with the kit.

    Thanks again.

    • Many thanks for helping spread the word about Toilet Tactics, cheers, Maria

    Reply
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