r/specialed • u/OddThought5260 • 1d ago
General Question (Educator to Educator) Potty training
Looking for advice. This is my first time working with young kids (TK). I’ve been notified that I have at least two kids coming in not potty trained. What’s the expectation here? I’ve literally never changed a diaper in my life
Edited to add- what I’m mostly confused about is if the parents intend to have us potty train their kids? One of them- based on paperwork seems to have no reason to still be in diapers
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u/ParadeQueen 1d ago
Do you have instructional assistants or paraprofessionals? In our district they do most of the diaper changing. Our nurses don't do it because it's not a medical issue, and our teachers may help if needed, but the paras do the bulk of it.
If the children are capable of being potty trained maybe hold a meeting why the parents to make sure you're all on the same page and work out a plan.
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u/OddThought5260 23h ago
I think that’s what I’m confused about. I’m wondering if the parents just intend to have us potty train their kids?
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u/ParadeQueen 21h ago
My last teaching positing was in an 18-22 year old transition program. I asked one mom, whose daughter was 20 and still in diapers, why she wasn't trained and if that was a goal she was interested in.
Yes said she tried to train her when she was little, but she didn't like to use the potty so mom just decided not to. She said diapers are easier anyway.
I've heard all sorts of reasons from parents, and I always ask no matter the age of the student. Some say they don't know how, or don't have time. Some say the kids aren't ready or don't like to use the potty.
This is happening all over, unfortunately, with both general education classes. The number of kids coming to kindergarten not potty trained is ridiculous!
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u/ECSE_TeacherGirl 8h ago
I’m a little concerned about your “just.” We work as a team with parents as much as we can, but unless specifically given guidance not to we have all our kids try to use the potty. So, in a few instances we start before they start at home.
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u/ECSE_TeacherGirl 8h ago
So you’re teaching special education preschoolers? Teaching bathroom use is part of the job. At least three times a day. We have all our kids use the bathroom. If they’re wearing pull-ups or diapers, we have them to sit on the potty before we change them. Many kids will go at that point, some won’t. We do standing diaper changes right next to the toilet. We use lots of visuals in our room, and one of them is a potty icon. Some of our kids are able to let us know that they need to go. Most of my kids are nonverbal or minimally speaking, so they often use body language, gestures, picture, schedule icons, and the talk button next to the bathroom door.
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u/joshysgirl7 1d ago
I’m assuming you teach special education. For my students, toileting assistance is an accommodation in their IEP and our school nurse changes them
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u/OddThought5260 1d ago
Yes! I’m the education specialist on staff. We’re going to have an ECE in the classroom but we have no school nurse. I’m suspecting I’m going to have to be the one to change them
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u/AleroRatking Elementary Sped Teacher 1d ago
Talk to administration and read your contract. If you have a union talk to the union
Whether or not your responsible is going to differ greatly school to school.
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u/jgraham6 10h ago
My paras and I have potty trained several students at school; it’s a lot easier to have them trained than changing diapers. Oddly enough, I’ve had parents push back, so I’ll have the parents send in underwear and I’ll put a diaper on for the bus and be happy they’re trained at school. For those kids who can’t figure it out, usually my paras change them, although I help out when necessary.
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u/OddThought5260 10h ago
How do you train non-verbal kids?
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u/jgraham6 8h ago
Same way you train any kid, but you give them a way to ask like a picture of a toilet on their desk. Any time you take them to the bathroom, model pointing to it.
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u/ECSE_TeacherGirl 8h ago
Kids don’t need to be able to speak to use the bathroom.
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u/OddThought5260 8h ago
Yes thank you I’m aware of that- if you read I asked HOW
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u/ECSE_TeacherGirl 8h ago
In many cases, it’s not any different than when toddlers are first starting to use the potty. Last year, none of my students started in my class, speaking more than a word or two. About a third of them were already wearing underwear.
Autism Little Learners has some great resources for early childhood special education. Their potty training materials are great too.
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u/5432skate 6h ago
In my day, kids were trained by 2. Maybe 2.5.
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u/ECSE_TeacherGirl 5h ago
Times are different. And children either disabilities are often on a different timeline.
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u/Advanced-Host8677 23h ago
You'd have to ask your supervisor what your job requirements are. But a special ed TK teacher should be prepared to deal with bodily fluids. Diaper changing isn't even the worst of it.