Accidents

Hi C....
I was a preschool teacher for 4 year olds and saw this happen all the time with kids. She's probably having too much fun and doesn't want to stop to go to the bathroom. By the time she can't wait any longer, it's too late.
In my class, we set up specific times for everyone to try and use the bathroom. We also had a rule that no matter what was going on, if they had to go they raised their hand and went. Mind you, the bathroom was in my classroom. Talk to her teacher and see if there is a specific time of day this is happening. Ask the teacher for help reminding her to use the bathroom.

Good luck!
S.

My daughter did that too, at 3-4 years old, when she started preschool, and she seemed to do it, as she said, simply because she "forgot" as she was playing and by the time she went to the bathroom it was too late. She is almost 5 yrs. old now... but SOMETIMES in a blue moon, she'll wet her pants too....but it was at times when school was going to end, and she was then going to start Kindergarten. It was anxiety and perhaps "stress" at the new stage in her life, and the changes to occur. She would tell us though. Sometimes though, it's just the adjustment to their lives... and their new environment, and they may be shy about it and going to the bathroom in a different venue so to speak. One thing though, I knew it was a temporary thing with my daughter, she didn't like "attention" about it and was a little embarrassed... i would just reassure if that I am there for her if anything is bothering her, and we won't judge her. We never reprimanded her for her "accidents" though. You could ask the teacher to "remind" your daughter about going to the bathroom perhaps?? But you may also want to see if there is something else wrong... that is causing her stress or what not, which can usually trigger these episodes. Good luck
~susan
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Hi C., your daughter may be imbarassed about saying that she has to go to the restroom, her teacher is not her mother and I assume that you always take her to the restroom when you are not at home. She also may not like the facilities at her school. A lot of kids don't like to use public restrooms. Little ones don't always have the vocabulary that can help them explain their problems. You might want to watch her reactions to public restrooms and see if you can get an insight to what it is that she is thinking. Good luck. Pam

Hello C.,

I just wanted to know if your daughter still has accidents at school? If she does, try having her go to the bathroom right before school at home. Thanks for your time, I hope things work out for you guys. Take care.

Dear C.,

I have 2 boys (5 and 18mth) and a baby on the way. From what I understand some children when they experience a change in their life whether its starting kindergarten or having a new sibling in the home etc., wetting themselves can take place during that time of transition. Try not to stress over it, and most importantly do not shame your child. Continue to encourage her progress in school.

It sounds like she is just having such a good time that she forgets to stop and go potty. Maybe her teacher can remind her to take potty breaks? This is a really common thing, and I'm surprised that her teacher doesn't remind the whole class.

maybe with the new enviro. she is just scared to go by herself or maybe not even sure how to get to the bathroom-sometimes they are outside of the classroom.Maybe next time take her and show her and tell her she can go whenever she needs to or to just tell the teacher.Also sometimes they are too caught up in what they r doing and wait to long to make it.maybe for the next few days the teacher can help remind her to go??i'm sure it won't last fot too long, i think it's just the change she needs to adjust to.

C. ~ I think this happens to a lot of kids her age. My youngest daughter had the same thing happen. As it turned out, she was either too busy having fun and believed she could "hold it" or she was embarrassed to ask the teacher to go in front of the other kids (boys) in the class. You should talk to her and tell her that when she feels like she has to go, she needs to stop what she is doing and tell the teacher she needs to go. Also, I would suggest talking to her teacher and asking her teacher what she suggests for your daughter to do. She/He should have some ideas as this must happen to a lot of little ones your daughter's age. My daughter was allowed to get up from her desk wthout permission to go to the teacher's desk to ask to go to the bathroom so she didn't have to say it outloud. Good luck and don't worry, it's a normal thing.

I still remember my own kindergarten class (31 years ago) and kids peed their pants all the time! Maybe talk to her privately and ask her if she understands the "rules" for using the bathroom. Do they have to raise their hand, can they just get up and go? Did she wait too long and some other child was in there and she couldn't hold it any longer? I think it's pretty common but hopefully you can nip it in the bud soon. Until then, I guess you'll have to send her with extra clothes and/or pull ups.

Sometimes kids get wrapped up in what they are doing that they simply don't want to take the time to go to the bathroom.

hi C. - from my experience (working in classroom with children hannah's age) her small regression is probably one of a few reasons. first could be the change in daily routine, and more likely is the EXcitement, if she is raring to go to school every morning more than likely she has that same attitude at school. she may be so involved in activities that by the time she acknowledges the urge it is too late. a few things to do would be remind her in the morning if you don't already. talk to her about how it takes more time out of her day to change clothes than it would if she went potty as soon as she felt the need. make sure that the teacher leaves the light on in the bathroom, as this scares some children when lights are off. make sure that the teacher properly recognizes children's needs as soon as they need to be, some teachers are gung ho on preparing for higher grades and make children wait to be addressed. this isn't always the greatest idea when it comes to 5 and 6 year olds. and most important to be on the safe side make sure there is nothing else tha possibly scares her about the bathroom, i.e. a bully, a closed door behind her, the unwanted presence of a teacher's aide...these probably aren't as likely but better safe right. hope this helps.
--A.