Poop
Pooping on the toilet is a big step in toilet training, and many children would rather hold it in than try. Pictures make it concrete and take the drama out of it, without nagging. The visual support is below.
Poop
A brown pile of poop.
Poop in the toilet
Poop in a toilet bowl.
About this visual support
Many children learn to wee on the toilet long before pooping falls into place. Letting go can feel scary, the sound of the flush can be frightening and the toilet seat can feel too big. Sometimes the child holds it in so long that their tummy hurts, which makes the next attempt even harder. This calls for patience, calm and a way of talking about poo that is not embarrassing.
The visual support gives a neutral language. The pictures show poo in the toilet bowl and a simple symbol that even young children recognise. Build a short sequence: feel that it is time, go to the toilet, pull down your trousers, sit with your feet on a step, wait a while, wipe, flush and wash your hands. The picture of the poo in the toilet shows where it should end up, which may be exactly the information the child is missing.
A practical tip is to offer toilet visits after meals, when the gut is naturally active, and let the child sit for a few minutes with a book. A footstool and a smaller seat make a big difference to how relaxed the body becomes. With long-lasting constipation, talk to your health visitor or GP. If you want toilet breaks in a picture routine, you can try Routined for 14 days at no cost.
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A hand flushes the toilet.
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