Healthy Back Loo School

An bhfuil cead agam dul go dtí an leithreas?

If your child – or teen – is back to school, you’ve probably asked them how they like their new teacher or what day PE is.  But — have you asked them about the toilets?

Yes, it’s a thing.  Look, if it’s not a thing for your child – great!  But honestly, it is a real thing for so many children!

Toilet anxiety in school is a problem, and can lead to real problems including soiling, anxiety, and constipation.   Here are things that your school hopefully has already checked (Or maybe ok but child isn’t comfortable?:

• Are the toilets clean?

• Is there sufficient toilet paper in each cubicle and soap at the sinks?

• If your child has menstrual periods, are there bins to dispose of hygiene products?

• Do the taps work OK – but too much splash?

• Are there hand-dryers OK — but too loud?

• What are the locks on the toilet doors like? Are they easy to use – some children can worry about getting locked in if the locks are a bit stiff or afraid of the doors swinging open if they are broken.

• What are the flushes like – difficult to use, a bit broken?

• What is the set up like – does your child have privacy concerns?

• What is the access policy like?  Are there times when toilet breaks are banned?

• Maybe the toilets are absolutely perfect but your child has no idea — because they are actually too anxious to go in or have been overwhelmed in a new school and haven’t processed all the information eyt. .

Solutions can sometimes be as simple as arranging with the teacher to visit the toilets with your child before or after school (Sound odd?  Trust me, you won’t be the first!).  For expert advice, check out my recommended go-to for all things pee and poo:  ERIC