Hi all,
I'm generally a lurker, but have been on these boards since my daughter was born. I have a question for those of you with 3 year olds that are starting traditional preschool this year. My DD will be starting a 2 day a week program. The children have to be fully potty trained. DD is fully potty trained and has been for a few months. The director of the school mentioned at the open house that they are not allowed to help the children with wiping. I fully understand the (sad, but true) implications that schools face now when dealing with children and private body parts. However, in my heart I just feel that she is too young to be expected to wipe completely alone. She practices here, and know what to do...but in general she is just getting the outside skin of both areas and not where you really need to get! (She just turned 3 in July so she is a "young" 3.) It is making me sad to think of her NEEDING help, and them not doing it. A friend of mine has her child enrolled at a preschool that allows the teacher to help with toileting....and I'm starting to wonder if I should consider that. Am I crazy and just overthinking things?? Or is this a legitimate concern? I have typical preschool Mommy worry, but the thought of her asking for help and them telling her no is just making me sad.
Re: Help with Bathroom at Preschool
My little (okay medium) guy, DS1, is turning 4 next month and still has trouble with this skill. We had meet the teacher tonight and our preschool is similar to yours. Our teacher, 6 year veteran, said that she cannot for safety reasons help in the restroom however she can "talk" them through it. She reports that sometimes the kids will just need a bath when they get home. One mom got huffy but I had already know the expectation and have been practicing with DS (taking turns wiping) and also using flushable wipes. Luckily, my guy is a one a dayer and generally its in the late afternoon when he is home. Because of this, I am not as worried.
I would explain things to your DD: "you really need to try hard to wipe your on booty in order to...Ms. XYZ at school is not allowed to help you because..."
I don't know if I would switch or not. How awesome is the school compared to others/
www.facebook.com/TryVermontFirst
I love these two beautiful children!
DD is in a FT daycare/preschool. They supervise them wiping, but will rarely help. I've just tried coaching DD and telling her to count to 5 when she does it. Its still not great, but I'm not overly concerned.
I guess I don't get why they can't help. That's stupid. If there is a sicko working at a preschool, then unfortunately, they could assault a child at any time,not just in the restroom. Additionally, if a state/city/county or whatever has a rule about kids being helped with wiping in the restroom, then how do they handle babies and toddlers with diaper changes? They certainly would not expect those children to wipe themselves!
DD is an "ok" wiper, but she'll still be a bit damp after pee if I don't help her, and my biggest concern with poop would be her wiping in the wrong direction, which could give her a UTI.
I miss you lite-brite!
My 3 yo DS still needs help in the bathroom (a late July birthday). He just mastered peeing on the potty a few weeks ago after a long, long battle with potty training. Wipe - lol - no freaking way. I'm lucky if he doesn't poop right in his pants. He'll be starting preschool in a few weeks - same policy as your preschool. I guess we'll see how it goes.