Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
For many families, preparing for the start of school involves practical tasks such as purchasing uniforms, labeling belongings, and fitting in a final summer vacation. However, for some parents, a more fundamental concern is whether their child can independently use the toilet. This issue has been highlighted by a recent survey conducted by the charity Kindred Squared, which found that nearly one-third of children starting school in the West Midlands last year were not fully toilet-trained. Additionally, 42% of children entering reception were considered not ready for school by primary school educators.
In response to these findings, Kindred Squared has introduced a potty-training initiative designed to offer resources and support to families, nurseries, schools, and professionals. This scheme, which is being implemented in Solihull, builds on a pilot project launched in York in April. During the pilot, parents received potty-training and school readiness guides alongside their school place offers. Furthermore, workshops and support were provided through a variety of community points, including GP practices, pharmacies, libraries, and local community hubs. The pilot saw a significant reduction, nearly halving the proportion of children starting reception without being toilet-trained.
One parent benefiting from such support is Rachel, a mother of two from Nottinghamshire. Despite working as a teacher and feeling well-informed about child development, she found toilet training her son at age three challenging, especially as he struggled with withholding stools. Rachel explained, “I’d say as a teacher, I feel I’m quite an informed parent in this area,” but added, “So I was thinking, ‘I know what’s going on but I don’t know what to do’.” She emphasized that the difficulty is not due to parental neglect or laziness, stating, “It’s hard and it’s a lot of effort.” Despite seeking assistance, Rachel’s family was only able to access funded support when her son was five years old, near the end of his reception year. Currently eight, her son is awaiting an assessment for ADHD, which Rachel suspects may have influenced his early developmental challenges. She noted that withholding behaviours can be related to trauma, such as negative reactions following accidents, contributing to her son’s difficulties in toilet training.
Helen Davies, a health visitor and children’s nurse in Stafford, echoed these sentiments, explaining that repeated toileting accidents might cause children to become afraid of the toilet, potentially leading to constipation. She stressed the importance of understanding the underlying causes rather than assuming parents have not tried hard enough. Bailey, a former reception teacher and early years lead, commented on the disparities in school readiness she observed across different socioeconomic areas, attributing much of it to income inequality. She pointed out that while some parents can purchase parenting books, those from lower-income families often lack access to such resources and suggested that free toilet-training materials be distributed when children reach two years of age. Davies, who runs Essential Parenting, highlighted the lack of timely and consistent support before difficulties become entrenched, noting that financial stress, parental anxiety, limited play opportunities, and challenges in obtaining early years services can all hinder school preparation. She underscored the vital role of public services, especially for families unable to afford private assistance
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.