It's not uncommon for previously toilet-trained children to suffer some daytime accidents when they begin preschool. There are a myriad of reasons for this behavior, and fortunately most are not the result of a major medical problem. The following tips can help you as the parent address the daytime wetting even when it tends to only happen at preschool.
Tip #1: Rule out medical causes
One mild medical reason for many cases of daytime wetting is a delayed urination signal to the brain. This means your child doesn't realize they need to go until it is too late. The problem tends to become more apparent at preschool simply because the protocol to use the restroom takes more time than it does to simply walk down the hall at home. Your doctor can determine whether this is the cause. If daytime wetting has been an ongoing problem at both home and school, then the issue may simply be a weak bladder or mild infection.
Tip #2: Determine the cause
If there is no medical cause, then you may have to do a bit of detective work to determine why this is happening only at preschool. Fear of missing out is a common reason—a child simply doesn't want to leave an activity to go to the bathroom, and then it is too late. Occasionally the problem could also be the result of separation anxiety. A child may wet themselves in hopes their parents will have to come pick them up. Work with the preschool staff to figure out what is the most likely cause in your child's case.
Tip #3: Request set bathroom breaks
More frequent bathroom breaks can be the answer if your child has a late bladder signal or if they simply don't want to miss anything. In a larger preschool, this may mean the teacher scheduling more frequent bathroom breaks for the class. In smaller schools, the teacher may just need to remind your child to go to the bathroom more often. The key is to work with the teacher and your medical professional to determine the frequency that works best for your child and the classroom as a whole.
Tip #4: Don't make the issue a big deal
When the problem is medical, shaming your child won't do any good. It also isn't helpful if the reasons aren't medical. Shame can lead to anxiety, and that can make the issue worse. Instead, provide the preschool with extra clothing so if an accident occurs, your child can be quickly changed. There is no need for you to come to the school early. This is a good thing if the wetting is due to separation anxiety because the behavior will generally stop if your child isn't achieving their goal of seeing you.
For more help, speak with a preschool in your area such as Kid's Country Child Care & Learning Center for more information.
Share26 January 2017
I have been a volunteer tutor for over a decade now, and the only thing I dislike about it is the fact that I simply don't have the ability to help every child in the nation who is struggling in the classroom! During my time tutoring and working with many children, I have learned a lot about why children struggle in class and how to overcome those struggles. To help children and parents who I cannot tutor in person, I decided to create a blog to share my tips with parents whose children are not excelling in school. I first want to debunk the myth that the grades a children receives in class are solely dependent on their IQs. Every child truly has unlimited academic potential!