Page 3 | AIBU to think child might struggle to poop in a hole in the woods?

Pinkchickenwine · 15/09/2026 21:25

PlaneOverhead · 15/09/2026 20:15

I genuinely think this is a life skill that every child should have, just like being able to wee outside. It's limiting to only be able to conceive of toilets and cuts out lots of fun places to travel and proper camping.

My two DS used to go to cub/ scouts and camp, different place for the “loo” was dug every year. A weeks camp.

Hayley1256 · 15/09/2026 21:25

I would not be sending my kid here! I don't think this is something that should be normalised

Pinkchickenwine · 15/09/2026 21:22

ilovepixie · 15/09/2026 19:12

How do they wipe? If using toilet paper where do they put it?

Edited

In the hole?

Original poster

wldpwr · 15/09/2026 21:16

UnbeatenMum · 15/09/2026 21:12

I don't think DS would have coped with this no. There's a privacy and dignity issue with a teacher having to help a child who normally toilets independently. And it's not very inclusive (DS has Cerebral Palsy and Autism and I think both of these would have caused him issues). A toilet tent and a camping loo would be a pretty low cost alternative.

Agree, we were just discussing this, unfortunately they move around the woods during the day so they couldn't set anything up for the day.

OP posts:

Plasmal · 15/09/2026 21:13

At about 8 mine was abroad and wouldnt poop or even wee because the toilet used foam not water..
And also that year needed a wee but wouldnt go on the plane as the toilet room was tiny and next to the crew sat there.
so i would say no.
other kid can take ages pooping so couldnt be squatting outside

UnbeatenMum · 15/09/2026 21:12

I don't think DS would have coped with this no. There's a privacy and dignity issue with a teacher having to help a child who normally toilets independently. And it's not very inclusive (DS has Cerebral Palsy and Autism and I think both of these would have caused him issues). A toilet tent and a camping loo would be a pretty low cost alternative.

godmum56 · 15/09/2026 21:08

PurpleThistle7 · 15/09/2026 21:04

I think it’s the cleanup that bothers me. Clean up with what? How?

My kids have never to my knowledge pooped at school so they’d just wait to come home (assuming the day is like 8-6 or school hours). I have no issues with kids learning how to wild camp and such but feel it would be quite intrusive to have some teacher help them manage. And would have a lot of questions about wiping and hand washing as even if it wasn’t them, it will be someone and then they’ll all be touching all the same stuff 🤮

agree. You shouldn't bury loo paper or wipes and hand sanitiser is not going to be anygood for removing poo from skin without using something wipey to wipe with. Sanitiser only works on clean hands, not hands with "matter" on.

PurpleThistle7 · 15/09/2026 21:04

I think it’s the cleanup that bothers me. Clean up with what? How?

My kids have never to my knowledge pooped at school so they’d just wait to come home (assuming the day is like 8-6 or school hours). I have no issues with kids learning how to wild camp and such but feel it would be quite intrusive to have some teacher help them manage. And would have a lot of questions about wiping and hand washing as even if it wasn’t them, it will be someone and then they’ll all be touching all the same stuff 🤮

Terfedout · 15/09/2026 21:03

Some odd threads on here this evening 🤣🤣🤣

godmum56 · 15/09/2026 21:02

mmm do they own ther forest school land? If they don't, I wonder what the landowner thinks?

NameChangeScot · 15/09/2026 21:02

How are girls expected to go for a wee? I've never mastered the art of a wild wee yet!

sunshine244 · 15/09/2026 20:58

I used to work as a forest school teacher and this would be an entirely unacceptable thing for routine situations. There should be a proper toilet option of some sort e.g. camping toilet, compost toilet etc. Plus water to wash hands as hand sanitiser doesn't remove dirt only germs leftover after dirt.

A walk away from base camp where a poo happens somewhere unexpected is one thing but a routine of pooping all over the place in holes isn't ok for many reasons.

champagnetrial · 15/09/2026 20:53

This reminds me of the time my 6 year old was caught short on a walk and had to do a wild poo. He produced a structure of such height and form, he wanted to leave it as a trail marker, a bit like those rock towers you see. It was quite the ediface.

Wtafdidido · 15/09/2026 20:48

Well I have boys and they would love this!

Flamingojune · 15/09/2026 20:46

EmeraldShamrock000 · 15/09/2026 20:21

Definitely not, he’s 11. He can’t poop in the school bathroom never mind a hole in the woods.

Whats wrong with the school toilet

Original poster

wldpwr · 15/09/2026 20:44

helpfulperson · 15/09/2026 20:27

Surely at that age the number of emergency poos would be limited. I take Beavers out and about for a few hours at a time and I don't ever remember any of them needing a poo. Wee yes but never a poo, unless SEN and then we had a bespoke plan.

It's a whole day.

OP posts:

BarnacleBeasley · 15/09/2026 20:43

My 5 year old would be fine with this, but would then expect me to start facilitating wild poos as well. My 2 year old won't even poo in the toilet at nursery and waits till he gets home.

Yewlez · 15/09/2026 20:34

PlaneOverhead · 15/09/2026 20:15

I genuinely think this is a life skill that every child should have, just like being able to wee outside. It's limiting to only be able to conceive of toilets and cuts out lots of fun places to travel and proper camping.

What fun places are you thinking of, where you have to poo in a hole you've dug?

Asking so I can avoid them.

Yanbu op I think this is disgusting and weird.

malificent7 · 15/09/2026 20:33

I think there is a book called "how to poo in the woods".

Ablondiebutagoody · 15/09/2026 20:32

I don't understand the aibu. Why would it be difficult to have a poo?

ExpectMore · 15/09/2026 20:29

wldpwr · 15/09/2026 18:56

If you have a child aged 4, 5 or 6...

... full day of childcare in the woods, only option for number two is 1) notify teacher, 2) teacher digs small hole, 3) child poops in hole, 4) teacher covers hole and helps child clean up.

YABU = my kid could cope with this, no problem

YANBU = this sounds like something my kid might find weird or difficult

Thanks!

I reckon many would love it, particularly if viewed as an adventure.

I mean, at that age they’re not far from sh*tting anywhere with anyone watching them so I can’t imagine the problem!

let’s not forget where we all evolved from… I suspect many will claim theirs have evolved to smell of roses however pretty sure that’s not the case.

helpfulperson · 15/09/2026 20:27

Surely at that age the number of emergency poos would be limited. I take Beavers out and about for a few hours at a time and I don't ever remember any of them needing a poo. Wee yes but never a poo, unless SEN and then we had a bespoke plan.

SquigglePigs · 15/09/2026 20:25

Honestly at that age most kids I know would see it as a highlight of the experience rather than anything else.

As an adult I'd have concerns around wiping, hand washing etc. though.

Annoyedbyhusband · 15/09/2026 20:22

My child did poop in a woods a couple of times while potty training, but not at age 5, I don’t think they would have done this. How do they wipe?
I can’t see how they clean up properly and mine would not be ok without proper cleaning.
how many children in a class? What if they all poop and then the woods is just a load of human shit, I don’t think this is environmentally friendly.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 15/09/2026 20:21

Definitely not, he’s 11. He can’t poop in the school bathroom never mind a hole in the woods.