To think 6 is old enough to flush the loo?

[CurlyRover]

DSD is 6 and we're having issues with her not flushing the loo. On Saturday evening I asked if she'd flushed and when she said no I asked her politely to please go and do it. It led to (what I thought was) a massive overreaction where she had a meltdown and refused to do it, cried etc. Granted she was massively overtired at the time but still. DP spoke to her about it and she did it eventually albeit under protest and making a huge song and dance about the noise. We know she can do it and doesn't struggle with the flush (which we'd understand it if she did) as we've both seen her flush in the past.

Just now I went to the loo in the family bathroom and there was poo in the bowl so again she hasn't flushed I know it's her as the only time DP or I use the family bathroom is at night when one of us is asleep and therefore not wanting to wake the other up by using our currently doorless ensuite.

I don't have any DC nor do I know anyone who has DC her age so I'll admit I don't always know what she should and shouldn't be able to do at this age. AIBU to think 6 is plenty old enough to flush on your own?

I have daily murders with DS(11) who is too fucking lazy to flush after himself, but even worse there’s no toilet paper in with the turd either so I know he’s not wiped his arse either!

I’ve told him, next pair of skiddy undies I find in the washing basket will be nailed to the goalpost of his next football match!

Kids are mingers!!

😂😂

YANBU my 2.5 yo flushes the toilet every time he uses it (and sometimes just when I have my back turned for fun!)
She is probably completely capable but it does sound like she may be scared of the noise?

Lol, @MissWilmottsGhost at the moment she loves helping. She packed her own things for the last holiday, she even packed for her sister when she was off to camp recently.

DD1 (9) isn't like that at all. She just thinks about which teddy she wants. They really are all individuals, aren't they??

My 3 year old son loves flushing the toilet - even if its just tipping potty contents down it! YANBU x

I don't think she is scared of the sound as she doesn't usually have a complete meltdown, just moans a bit. I think that particular time she was just overtired and anything would've set her off at that point (unbeknownst to me until after the fact!) Although she does have a fear of handdriers.

She's never flushed the loo of her own accord with us tbh and I don't think her Mum ever asks her to. I've no idea if she does it in school or not.

Glad I'm not the only one it annoys and it's not just because she's my SD. Although DP finds it less irritating he is making more of a conscious effort to remind her / check.

To answer your earlier question, it doesn't really bother me. If it's a wee, I tend to think on the saving on my water bill

My husband / his father in the other hand... he gets really frustrated by it.

Just wanted to add that he used to be fine with flushing & washing his hands. This really is just a phase.

Haha fair point Thinkof Tbh I really don't mind wees. It's the poos that really bother me.

You're right that it's just a phase, just like everything else.

I used to be scared of it too. Apparently it started after I had grommets as previously I'd had poor hearing and so sudden loud noises were extremely alarming to me. I didn't do it at school (even scarier, Victorian pull chain flushes!) and the other girls used to laugh at me. I can't remember when it stopped being an issue and became automatic TBH.

I would push it though TBH, especially if you think she's annoyed rather than scared. I don't think it's healthy for children to be allowed to stay in their comfort zones all the time, unless it's something temporary and transitional, or understandable like a particularly loud flush (Some in Germany are like this, they sound like jet washers!)

Yes it is reasonable. I expect my 4 year old to flush the loo. He doesn't always do it but he gets sent back to do it if he doesn't.

DS6 and DD4 here... we have 2 toilets - one up and one down.
They can both flush upstairs but DS needs reminding. DD remembers and will sometimes remind DS if they're both upstairs!

They can't do downstairs.. it's really hard and sometimes I struggle with it!

DS will only poo upstairs so that gets annoying.

My nephew had the opposite problem - he seemed to really enjoy flushing the loo to the extent that we had to keep the bathroom door shut otherwise he would be endlessly in their flushing and driving us all mad! He's 8 now and seems to be going through a lazy phase of not bothering and really annoying both my sister and niece who are very particular (niece is 5 but very much the grown up madam!)

Problem is that kids need to be exposed to doing grown up things like flushing wiping and hand washing at a young age (by that I mean 2-3). Make it clear that as a 6 year old she isn't a little baby anymore and needs to start acting like the big girl that she is. Over-infantilising children makes everything a huge drama when DC is finally and suddenly expected to do things that they never had to before. She's not on a potty, she's using a grown up toilet so needs to be acting accordingly.

Make it clear that as a 6 year old she isn't a little baby anymore and needs to start acting like the big girl that she is. Over-infantilising children makes everything a huge drama when DC is finally and suddenly expected to do things that they never had to before. She's not on a potty, she's using a grown up toilet so needs to be acting accordingly.

^^ I totally agree with you! She is massively over infantilised by her mother and it causes no end of problems here. I like your point about the potty. I'll tell DP that and see if he'll mention it to her next time she doesn't flush!

The abandoned pops do make me cross, but if I find an unflushed wee I have a small inward cheer because at least it went in the toilet for once.