Toilet Training Support Provided in Head Start

Whether you are the parent of a toddler who may be ready for toilet training or a preschooler who has yet to master toilet training, Early Head Start and Head Start will work with you!

Early Head Start teachers and parents will discuss and agree upon the readiness of the toddler. Can she pull their clothing up and down without help? Can he answer simple yes or no questions? Does the child stay dry for periods of at least two hours? If the answer to these questions is yes, the team will develop an Action Plan for toilet training.

There may be times when a young preschooler may not be toilet trained, in these cases the Head Start teachers and the parent will also develop an Action Plan for toilet training.

The teachers, parents and family service assistant will meet to discuss the Action Plan. The plan will contain the child’s name and the goal, for example a goal may be “toilet trained by March.”

The teachers, parents and family service assistant will then decide what will be done while the child is at school (teacher responsibilities) and what will be done at home (parent responsibilities). These actions will be recorded on the plan. All parties will sign and receive a copy of the plan.

Some things that may be on the plan would be:

Frequency of taking child to toilet

How to celebrate successes

Type of clothing to be worn during toilet training

Sharing of books about using the toilet

When to meet again to review/revise plans

Resources: silly songs, helpful tips, etc.

Time, patience and teamwork will help each child become successful at using the bathroom. Toilet training is one step toward school readiness.