School Accidents

Is he shy or afraid to ask the teacher when he needs to go? That's my 3 year olds problem... she does not like to speak to other adults and is afraid to ask.

The 'scheduled' bathroom visits at school... DOES NOT... go according to a child's bladder.
That is why.

A child, SHOULD BE ABLE TO... go to the bathroom WHENEVER they need to.

Don't fault your son.
He is young.
At this age.... kids do have accidents.
Both my kids in preschool, at at those ages, had accidents.
Their Teachers do NOT flinch about it nor think it is a big deal.
They simply change the child into their back-up clothing that is at school, give no embarrassment about it to the child, do not scold for it, and that is all.
C'mon, they are 3. This happens. A school, SHOULD know that.

ANY school, even Kindergarten and upper grades... a child is ALLOWED to use the bathroom... WHENEVER THEY NEED TO. And the Teacher lets them. AND the child is told, to tell the teacher they have to go pee/bathroom.
This is how it has been, ever since my kids were in Preschool and even currently.
The child can go, whenever, they need to.

It is not your child's fault.

Bladders.... do NOT work, according to a "schedule."
That is the problem.

3 y.o. is a bit young to be punished for having an accident. Teachers don't think anything about this. When they start getting to 5 and 6 y.o. then it becomes a problem. Even in K kids have an accident now and then, but once they hit 1st and 2nd grade accidents should not be happening. I wouldn't worry about this accident and just make sure the school has a couple of extra sets of clothing. Also as an FYI your child's clothing may get set home with someone else so don't send good clothing as extra clothes.

Interesting as my son is the opposite usually! He has always done much better everwhere but home. Is school new for him? Wondering if maybe there is an anxiety component to it. That's been our issue
Best of luck - I'm sure he'll be back on track soon.

I've seen it go both ways. Some kids have had better success at my house. Usually, it's harder at school. There are more things going on, people to see and talk to, and they don't want to think about their bladder. By the time they realize they need to go it's too late. Often the child needs to wait in line for the bathroom to be free. Many times parents are just too quick to leave the pull-ups behind and accept that a mature bladder can wait up to 2 hours AND, a mature bladder can hold when someone else is in the bathroom ahead of them.

The maturity of a child's bladder and nervous system is simply not something that can be rushed.

I'm not sure how much help I can offer here, but when I read what you wrote, the one question that came to my mind is: Are the kids told that they can use the bathroom whenever they need to?

Scheduled bathroom times? I think that's silly! How would we grown ups feel if when we went to work we could only use the bathroom on a set schedule? I'm sure I'm being extreme here.....just sayin'.

Are the bathrooms too loud? My sons hate public restrooms unless they know I'm not going to flush. Otherwise they won't go. Don't worry, I flush once they're out. :)

He is probably either nervous about something or just having to much fun. It really could be either. Having way to much fun and not wanting to stop so waits and waits until its too late. Mine has done that a few times. Or he can be nervous about the bathroom time and about going. Are they rushed? Is there something in there that scares him. I know my daughter was terrified of those toilets that flush on their own so she wouldnt sit on them. Maybe some other kid made a joke about a snake or some other creature in the toilet and now he is afraid to use it.