Children and Potty Training in Preschool Sunday School

When you teach Sunday School, you want to have the time to teach and have fun with your children. Unfortunately, when you have young children, especially those under the age of 3, you often run into the problem of potty training. Some kids are quick to potty train, while others are not. You can very well have a child reaching 3 years old and not be potty trained. As a result, you spend much of your class time taking children to the bathroom, cleaning up accidents, or even changing diapers. Many Sunday Schools have a policy regarding potty training. Here is a look at what you can do in this case.

Talk to the parent:

One of the first things you will want to do is to touch base with the parents of the child who is not potty trained. Ask the parents whether or not they are actively pursuing potty training at home, and if they are find out what is or is not working at home. If they are not potty training yet, you may want to gently suggest some tips for getting started. Let them know that by the age of 3 a child should be getting closer to potty independence. You might also want to give all of your parents some potty training tips (find some great ones on the Internet) at the start of the year so no one feels singled out.

Have a class policy:

The next thing you will want to think about is having a class "potty" policy. Many day cares and other churches do. You will want to ask that parents take their child to the bathroom before coming to class. You will also want to ask that parents bring their children in pull-ups and bring extra clothes in case of an accident. If you are set against changing diapers, then let the parents know. If you call the parents in the middle of church to come and change their child who is not potty trained, then they might be more willing to work on this at home. There is nothing wrong with asking this of your parents, but you may want to consider a church-wide policy on this matter.

Have a schedule in the class:

Another great idea is to have a set schedule in your class for potty trips. Have a set snack schedule (preferably at the end of class). Use this time to give beverages to the class. Also, about half way through the class, make the time to take everyone to the bathroom. Most children at this age are not completely independent and will need some help in the bathroom. This will save you time and many trips to the bathroom in your class.

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Denise Oliveri has been teaching Sunday School for the past 13 years. She is the owner of Preschool Sunday School Central, a leading online resource for preschool Sunday School teachers. Stop by Preschool Sunday School Central and see the array of free resources and exciting and fun things that are available to members. They are guaranteed to make your lesson planning much easier.