I keep my nephews through the week and the oldest is about to be 4 in 2 weeks. He has been potty trained for a long time and does great. My question is when should he be able to clean him self after using the potty? We usually just do it for him but I think he should at least be attempting it and then us just check him after. He is starting pre-k in August, do they expect this to be mastered by that time? Any tips or suggestions on this would be great!
As soon as their bottom hits the seat it's appropriate to teach them to wipe on their own. Frankly I never have understood how you can NOT teach them how to wipe? To me it's one of the steps of going to the bathroom on their own. So yes, starting right now is appropriate. I too was grossed out when a friend's little girl came up to me after pooping and wanted me to wipe her. GL!!
With my oldest son, who will be 7 on Sunday, he was a late potty trainer. I thought we would NEVER get him trained! But he was potty trained, finally, by his fourth birthday, and I always handed him a wipe and then checked, just to be sure for a while. It wasn't very long before he was demanding his privacy and if he needed help, was asking for daddy.
I would start giving your nephews a wipe when they go in, check behind them for a while, and when they do a really good job, give them a sticker on a chart. If they do a so-so job or forget to wipe, then no sticker. Once they get that chart all filled up, give them a special treat, but it has to be something that they really like but don't get to have all the time, or it won't work. Whatever his currency is, he'll start wiping on his own and being extra careful to get completely clean and before you know it, it'll be a habit. This is actually how we finally got my son potty trained, and I'm pretty sure it'll work with other things as well...from wiping after going to the bathroom to picking up their toys, to anything that they need to do on a regular basis that we moms have trouble getting them to do.
Good luck!
I would teach him to clean himself now. Show him how and have him do it. I would still supervise this for now because it really can be messy, and hands MUST be cleaned properly afterward. He will be ready for school when the time comes this way :)
We started around 4 with our daughter and now 4.8 years old is doing all by herself. Just make sure they are acustomed to washing hands VERY well after going #2
I think they will expect him to do it. I actually hand a wipe to my 2.5 year olds and then just follow behind them with another one. I'd get the wet wipes for toddlers at first because it will be easier for him to be successful with them.
We started teaching my son around age 4 1/2. He is 5 1/2 and we still check (he had a long bout with diahrrea recently and hasn't regained his confidence about his ability to clean himself). My experience with checking into preschool/prek/kindergarten is that all programs are different. Some expect the kids to be totally independent others will offer assistance. I'd start now getting him to do it himself and you checking. Try different positions that may make it easier for him to reach - while seated on the toilet, standing, standing with one leg propped on a stool, etc. Maybe allow him to use flushable wipes when necessary. Good luck!
I would start teaching him now... PreK usually does want them to do it themselves, I would check what your PreK requiers. You will have to check, give tips and help at first but at his age he will pick it up quickly... and when he does it by himself well let him know you are proud of him for becoming such a big boy, that has kept my daughter wanting to do it herself and is getting really good at it (sometimes with poop it is harder but at least she tires and does pretty well).
Great question!
Children are safest when they learn to clean themselves from the beginning of toilet training. It's not just preschool, but when visiting relatives and friends. The idea is to have children responsible for cleaning themsleves, and to minimize them requesting that other people touch their private parts. This protects the children and the adults. When a child is ill and needs support, that is an exception. Preschool staff, relatives and friends are most often wonderful folks, but as parents, we are responsible for teaching our children a positive "good touching, no privates touching" vocabulary and attitude.
This is a positive opportunity from an early age to use age appropriate language regarding touching. "Nice job cleaning your private parts." "Mommy and Daddy will help you anytime you need extra help, but this is great!"
I taught my kids to clean themselves from day one of potty training. (3 for my oldest son, 2 for middle daughter and alittle over 1 for my youngest) Ofcourse i always "checked" to make sure they were clean and dry with an extra wipe. Praised them when they got it 100% right and for the good try if they didn't. So they understood the difference. Pre-K teachers.... atleast those I have come across do not go in the potty with the kids, so they do not clean them. He should be doing this by then. My youngest just turned 4 in December and unless she has diarrah or something I haven't cleaned her for along time. It is diffenetly not too early (or too late) to start having him do it.
Hope this helps :)
When my son first started potty training, I would wipe for him, showing him how he was supposed to do it, but after about 6 months, he started to want to do it himself. We used flushable wipes, so that it was easier for him to clean himself, than with dry, regular toliet paper. I would let him wipe 2 or 3 times, and then I would check, and if he needed, wipe him once more. He is now 4 1/2 and he gets himself clean about 99% of the time. Usually when he doesn't, he tells me his booty is itchy, and we then go over again how he needs to properly clean himself everytime, so he doesn't get itchy.
