The teacher says kids aren't allowed to use the bathroom during nap time?

Question

I work at a preschool and the kids go for an hour nap, and all of them use the bathroom before nap time. However, the main teacher told me she doesn't want them using the bathroom during nap time because she says if one wants to go, then they all will want to go. She also says one kid getting up will disturb the others.

So I was just wondering anyone's elses opinion on this. I never worked at a preschool before this, so I don't know what is normally done, but it sounds weird to me.

Answer 1

I support the teacher-and really if the child REALLY had to go-she would know if she knows the children. Kids would much rather play than sleep and to them it is a game.

Answer 2

If I were the parent of a child who had an accident because of this rule you can bet I'd have a lot to say! Kids can sleep through anything so my guess is one wouldn't disturb the others but, more to the point, refusing to let kids go  when they need to verges on abuse. Remember that they have just had lunch and in some kids digestion happens quickly.

Answer 3

as a former director it used to really bug me when a teacher wouldn't allow a child to use the bathroom.  i feel that we shouldn't dictate bodily functions.  our children were always allowed to use the bathroom. if it disrupts, then regain control.  it can be done quietly and discretely.  i'd never tell an adult teacher she had to wait so why enforce this on a child who doesn't always have the ability to hold it as adults do.

Answer 4

As a teacher, I understand because preschool kiddos do want toget up for the sake of getting up but that sounds a bit harsh! Especially because they are super young and still trying ot control their bladders so it could lead to an accident. I bet that all it will take is a kid to have an accident and a parent to complain. If by chance the teacher is gone and you were alone, then let them go because if you gotta go, ya gotta go.  I would also discretely talk to the daycare/preschool director for advice unless you know she will talk to the teacher. I personally didn't have this rule in class but I also talked to my preschoolers about how important it was NOT to play and we talked about the story of the boy who cried wolf and related it to going to the bathroom and not really having to.

Answer 5

There's a lot of fish in the sea.

Sorry, wrong question...

Answer 6

If someone has to go then they have to go... because in the future they could get bladder problems

Answer 7

Your lead teacher is so right! If the kids see one child go then they automatically need to go as well.  This is a case of knowing the kids, which ones probably really need to use the bathroom and the ones that want to stall or do like everyone else.  So if the lead teacher is there when the children take naps I would ask her to handle the bathroom situation, until you know the children a little bit better.  :)

Answer 8

the main teacher is right. but however, if its imergency, the teacher should let them go to the bathroom.

Answer 9

yep sure does.

if a kid needs to go they need to go

ive worked in a preschool and have a kid thre now.

i would be horrified if they denied my kid and caused a bigger scene.  -esp as he is out of diapers.

where i worked we let them go quietly- it rarely happened as the kids were sleeping . one of us would take the kid out to use a bathroom outside the room.

maybe the kids can do a signal to tell u they need to go pee. like a hand on their head. so they dont have to talk.

Answer 10

I do agree that if a child was to get up and go to the bathroom it would disturb the other children, but if you have to go you have to go. Its good that the children go before nap time and should leave them empty for their nap, but children shouldn't be told to hold it to often because that can lead to bathroom problems and wet pants. Maybe you should try teaching the children how to quietly get up and ask permission to go to the bathroom without waking the other children.

Answer 11

Kids should be able to use the bathroom when they need to. At that age they don't usually have to when they have been just before. Some children use this as an excuse, but others may have a bathroom problem. They should be able to use the bathroom as needed, but I understand the teacher's releuctance.

Answer 12

i don't know, but if a kid has to go really bed during nap time..then let him/her pee the bed and the mean old teacher can deal with it .. lol

Answer 13

The obvious is to line the kids up at the bathroom door and make them use the restroom one at time if it is a single bathroom, if it is communal, then small groups go in and use the facilities then line up again. When all have finished, they are led to their nap pads and down they go for a short sleep. I am personally against naps in school.

Schools are not paid to put kids to sleep, they can do that at home.

Either shorten the day, or learn to educate these children and make good use of the time.  

Answer 14

Kids need to have the option of going to the bathroom when they need to.  I assume that your restroom is not a fantastic place of wonder that will occupy them for hours.  If a child needs to go and is taken to the potty and has a quick wash without being allowed to play in there, then the other kids probably will tire of being copy cats.  It sounds like your lead teacher wants some rest during nap time too and doesn't want to be bothered by the kids.  I'm sure you both have a billion things to do during rest but the kid's needs have to come first no matter what.  Kids can't be trained to potty on cue and they may not go when you have them all go at the same time.  Some may be shy and want more privacy.  Stick up for your students and tell the lead teacher that it is developmentally inappropriate not to let them go during nap.

Answer 15

She's correct, and if it's only one hour then the kids should be fine.  Obviously you have to take into account the kid and whether or not they are ill. But if they go before naptime then they are MORE then capable of holding out for one hour.

After working in a preschool and as a nanny for 8 years now I can tell you that if one has to go potty they all will have to go potty.  If the kids know it's a rule then they will follow it.  It won't hurt the kids.

Answer 16

Kids should be allowed to go to the bathroom if they need to.This sounds cruel to me.

Best of Luck!

Jana

http://www.summerhouseliving.com/

Answer 17

As an owner of two preschools I would be so upset to discover the children are not allowed to go potty when needed.......so what if others have to go also...........we have to let the children know that we trust them, and this is part of that.  

Having said that, talk to the teacher about your feelings and why if you are bothered by this ..........talk to the director.  Maybe present some research to prove your case.

Answer 18

I work at a daycare and we have all of the kids use the bathroom right before naptime... I've found that usually if they get up in naptime, they're just stalling because they don't want to take a nap, and yes it does seem to make the others say "I have to go to the bathroom now." even though they JUST went.

They are allowed to go during naptime if they feel they really, really must... but otherwise, it's a no.

They go just before nap - they can manage the hour nap.

Answer 19

IT IS AGAINST THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS TO NOT BE ALLOWED TO USE THE BATHROOM. AT ANY TIME.........   I SUED THE SCHOOL & WON A NICE SETTLEMENT,  IF ONE KID ASKS YOU, PLEASE LET THEM GO.........  OR ELSE..............SHE COULD BE SUED, YOU NEED TO REPORT HER TO THE SUPERINTENDENT........IT'S A SEVERE VIOLATION AGAINST ANYONE RIGHTS.......  & YOU DO NOT WANT TO GET SUED EITHER.........  YOU NEED TO TURN HER IN, OR  LEAVE YOUR SCHOOL'S NAME ON HERE, & I'LL TURN HER IN FOR YOU........WITHOUT GIVING YOUR INFO.  GOOD LUCK....... KIDS NEED TO USE THE POTTY......

Answer 20

Yeah I think that it is wrong to deny a child the use of the bathrooom.  I am a preschool teacher within a child care center and we also have nap time.  I do have the children use the bathroom before we lay down, but who's to say that they didn't drink a lot a lunch and have to go again. I might say to the child, in 5 minutes you can go to the bathroom, if I am getting a child to sleep, but I would not deny use of the bathroom.  If it seems like a habit for the child, I might place them closer to the bathroom so they are not disrupting the other children, or after he/she uses the bathroom, I might put him/her to sleep first.  I do not think that what the teacher is doing is right.  The state or school might have a problem with it if they knew.

Answer 21

Well, if a child says he/she needs to use the bathroom, then I tend to believe them. It's usually easy to tell whether they are just saying they need to go for something to do and an excuse to get up OR if they're saying it because they really need to. Depending on when children eat or drink before nap time, it might cause them to need to go at different times, depending on the speed at which his/her body processes things.

Sometimes you can tell a child "Wait a bit and ask me again." If they don't really need to go, they'll forget to ask again. If they do, then they can usually last a bit and will ask again.

I knew "my kids" (and kids in general) well enough to be pretty sure about who really needed to go just by the way they were acting, body language, and things they said.

If ones goes and then "they all want to go", it should be pretty obvious that they don't ALL need to go and you just say no. Easy. If they're still awake, distract them by giving them a book to look at.

So, yes, it's a bit weird to make a policy saying NO child can go to the bathroom at nap time. I would refuse to follow that rule and would use my own judgement. If it got me fired, so be it.

Answer 22

I use to work at a daycare center and I ALWAYS let the kids go to the bathroom when they needed to go. If the child ask to go and then plays around in the bathroom, then just send them back to their bed. At least you gave them the choice to use the washroom when they asked. I would really talk to your boss about this.  

Answer 23

the second answer is what i was going to say ha ha. This was always stupid to me though because when you gotta go you gotta go!

Answer 24

Young children esp preschool should be able to go to toilet whenever they need it! It's going to be more disturbing if they child wets themselves or is fidgetting trying to hold on! It will also disrupt the child's nap time and make them feel worse later on and if they do wet themselves may damage self-esteem.

I think that forcing children to hold on for extended time is against the Every Child Matters and EYFS principles as well as UN's Rights of The Child.

I know in my setting that one child says "i need a wee" a chorus will join in but if they are sleepy most probably wont want to go. Also if you work with same chidlren every day you get to know who are the sort that just go for the sake of it andwho actually does need to wee. It should be down to staff to check the child is actually using the bathroom and not just going in and walking out like some do!

Answer 25

Too bad !

I'm sorry But, I'm a mom and If I found out my son pissed on himself b/c a teacher wouldn't let him use the restroom during nap ......She would hear it from me.  I understand the situation about "having structure and order" But, when it comes to using the restroom, if a child says they have to go, you better let them go. Ask her...." then what should be said to the parent of the child who wets or s***s their pants?" ......would she rather deal with mad parents or risk disturbing a few kids !!!!

Childcare isn't cheap, we are not paying for these teachers to avoid "not dealing with kids"!!! ITS THERE JOB TO !

Answer 26

That was what i was going to say one kid will disturb another and another soon enough there are gonna be other kids waking up in other rooms when i was in Primary school "Preschool-3rd" i was in Pre- and i had a school where there are different rooms but there were only three and there were all connected think of a big room with a little divider it was really tiny and if one kid in our class had to go #1 than the whole class then the whole room then all of the Pre-school it is weird but when one kid says they have to pee the rest think they do and they get to the bathroom and they are like UGH! so it wasts alot of time to go #1 or #2 during nap time i am in 8th grade so i learned alot from it  

Answer 27

I would think this is some form of abuse.  Yes they do go to the bathroom before nap time, but you cannot deny a child from going to the bathroom.