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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Bottom wiping

9 replies

mummyrex · 07/09/2010 13:13

er, sorry for the 'graphic' title, but, do you think the average just turned 4 yr old is capable of wiping their own bottom after a poo?

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lovingmy2 · 07/09/2010 13:15

NO! My DS is 5 and i still get the shout 'mum!!!! will you wipe my bum' from the the bathroom. Althogh i do think many 5 year olds can and DS is lazy and me too soft!

pinayangel0912 · 07/09/2010 13:27

Ace most of the time likes to go toilet himslef, but will and is able to clean up after himslef, dry his winky and clean his bottom, though sometimes i come in and double check, he has only just turnt 4 end of last month and its his 1st day at primary school today!

yesway · 07/09/2010 13:29

My dd1 couldn't when she started school last year - but then she never relaxed enough to do a poo at school anyway...

Original poster

mummyrex · 07/09/2010 13:32

I reckon a lot of 6 year old still don't do a good job. But a 4 year old? Mine starts school tomorrow, she'll be full time in 3 weeks. I know noe of the children will get any help with this.

In fact, I now remember one of my older children getting in a terrible mess - literally - at the same age in nursery. The staff said they were not allowed to offer 'hands-on' help and that the most they could do was issue instructions from the other side of the cubicle door!

Which agin reminds me of overhearing a number of primary school teachers (childless) cackling in disgust and derision at their young charges and their pleas for help with this.

What do schools/teachers think is happening in the toilet cubicles?

OP posts:

pinayangel0912 · 07/09/2010 13:33

yesway i agree with you, Ace wasn't relaxed to do one at his nursery.. so always waited for hometime... it might be a different story as he is in school now..

Original poster

mummyrex · 07/09/2010 13:36

yesway, my 13 year old (and not the one who got in a mess) learned not to 'go' at school and still won't.

The good thing is my other children, knowing what can happen need little encouragement to use their hand-gel before eating. A little chat about how 'faecal matter' can spread around a school....

OP posts:

rabbitstew · 07/09/2010 13:58

Tee,hee. Not helping small children to wipe their bottoms and wash their hands properly afterwards probably does hugely increase the rate of illness in most primary schools! It probably results in a fair few blocked toilets, too (and sore, improperly wiped bottoms).

Most children have the sense not to poo at school unless they really have to, though.

mejon · 07/09/2010 16:57

4.1 yr old DD can't reliably - she still shouts for me to come and help. I've been trying to get her to do it herself for the past few weeks with varying success - I don't think her arms are long enough to reach from the back (sorry TMI). She's only 4 days into Reception but thankfully she hasn't pooed in school yet. Long may it continue.

Lizcat · 07/09/2010 17:31

It really depends on the child my very independent DD has been able to do a really good job since she was 3.5 - I haven't wiped a bottom since then and never see skid marks in her knickers.

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