TOILETING

 

Dear Caregivers:

Our preschool program takes a developmentally appropriate and inclusive approach to toilet training for all students, including peers and children with disabilities.

Tuition-based preschool students are expected to enter school already toilet trained. At the same time, we recognize that some children—due to developmental, medical, or individual readiness factors—may still be learning this skill when they begin preschool. 

We recognize that children develop at different rates, and toilet training can be a stressful process for both children and families. While preschool staff may support you in your toileting efforts,progress is strongest when routines and expectations are set at home for toileting. As a peer model, students are expected to be trained prior to enrollment. To help families, we will be sharing resources and strategies that can be easily used at home.

If you have not already discussed your child’s toileting progress with the classroom teacher, we encourage you to do so. Open communication allows us to align expectations, maintain consistency, and best support your child’s success.

Thank you for your continued partnership.

 

Signs Your Child May Be Ready for Toilet Training

 

Children show readiness for toilet training in different ways and at different times. A child does not need to show all of these signs to begin, but several together may indicate readiness:

Physical Readiness

• Stays dry for longer periods of time (about 2 hours)
• Has regular, predictable bowel movements
• Can walk to the bathroom and sit on the toilet or potty
• Can pull pants up and down with some assistance
   

Communication & Understanding

• Shows awareness of wet or soiled diapers (e.g., tells an adult, points, or asks to be changed.)
• Can follow simple directions (e.g., “Let’s go to the bathroom”)
• Uses words, signs, gestures, or pictures to communicate needs
   

Behavioral & Emotional Readiness

• Shows interest in the bathroom, toilet, or others using the toilet
• Demonstrates discomfort with dirty diapers and wants to be clean
• Can sit on the toilet or potty for a short period of time
• Begins to show pride in independence or “doing it myself”
   

Routine & Attention

• Tolerates short, predictable routines
• Can transition to the bathroom with adult support
• Responds to praise or encouragement

Accidents Are an Expected Part of Potty Training

 

Learning to use the toilet takes time. Children are still developing the ability to recognize and control their body’s signals, and accidents are a normal part of this process. Some children may feel upset or embarrassed when an accident happens. Families can help by staying calm, offering reassurance, and reminding children that accidents happen while they are learning.

To help us support your child at school, please help us by providing the following:

• At least one complete change of clothes to be kept at school
• Seasonally appropriate clothing, replaced as your child grows
• Extra underwear and/or extra pull-ups (no diapers, please)
• Wipes, if you are able to send them in

Whenever possible, children should wear underwear during the school day. If pull-ups are needed, we encourage families to have children wear underwear underneath the pull-up, as this helps children notice when they are wet and supports learning.

 

Ways to Support Toilet Training at Home

Families can help build toileting independence by using consistent routines and positive reinforcement. Helpful strategies include:

Use Visual Supports

• Toilet training charts or sticker charts to track attempts and successes
• Picture schedules that show bathroom steps (pants down, sit, wipe, flush, wash hands)

Create Predictable Routines

• Encourage bathroom visits at regular times (upon waking, before leaving the house, before meals, and before bedtime)
• Offer reminders rather than waiting for your child to ask

Use Positive Reinforcement

• Praise effort, not just success (e.g., “You tried!” or “Great job sitting on the toilet.”)
• Use small, motivating rewards if helpful (stickers, extra story time, choice of activity)

Support Independence

• Dress your child in easy-to-manage clothing (elastic waistbands)
• Encourage your child to help with pulling pants up and down and handwashing
   

Stay Calm and Consistent

• Respond to accidents calmly and without punishment
• Use the same words and routines at home and school whenever possible

Communicate with School

• Share what strategies are working at home
• Let your child’s teacher know where your child is in the process so supports can remain consistent

Toilet training is a process, and progress looks different for every child. Consistency, encouragement, and teamwork between home and school make a big difference.

 

Read: Books on Toileting

Potty Time with Pete the Kitty

Pete the Kitty walks toddlers through every groovy step for using the potty, from getting ready, to washing up—all leading up to one rockin’ celebration! Includes 20 flaps to lift and step-by-step instructions for using the potty.

Dino Potty

Read along as this friendly dinosaur learns how to use the potty and put on his brand-new underwear. With easy rhymes and vibrant illustrations, Dino Potty is a wonderful resource to teach children all of the potty training steps from flushing the toilet to washing hands.

Let's Go to the Potty

Provide your toddler the gentle support and encouragement they need during potty training. Let’s Go to the Potty is an engaging, story-driven guide for toddlers who are ready to break free of the diaper. Playful pictures give toddlers visual clues as to what their progress will look like, and a short, rhyming potty song teaches toddlers to communicate their needs.

More can be found on this link: The Best Potty Training Books