So last night we went to my daughters soon-to-be kindergarten class for a meet and greet with the teachers and to have a chance to check things out and become familiar with the place before she starts in the fall. She was as happy as a clam and it was too sweet to see her with a constant smile on her face but...... being the OCD germaphobe that I am I just had to check out the bathroom. So we all head over there to see what it was about and thankfully and rightfully so the toilet and the sink are nice and low for the kids but there was piss EVERYWHERE! It was disgusting. I know these are little kids that have probably just learned to go to the bathroom on their own but still. How can I ever feel comfortable with the fact that my child will have to sit on this potty and then have to grab the bathroom doorknob to leave knowing that she will most likely be grabbing onto pee and poop everytime she leaves the bathroom? I am so stressed out about this. I know that she will have to learn and that her immune system will be kicked into overdrive in the first few yrs of school but this is just nasty to me. Also because this isn't preschool I know that they have to do the potty breaks all on their own and they should but do any of you smart parents know whether its expected for a teacher to accompany them to the door of the bathroom and then leave them to do their business but wait outside for them? Not sure if this makes a difference either but it was 5pm when we went so obviously the janitor hadn't come yet but still
Thanks in advance
IN the nicest way possible - get over it. Kids touch gross things. Kids make and pass on gross things. Chances are the custodian wasn't there yet but still, all it takes is one kid at 9:00 AM to pee on the seat and it's over! Every kid in America has been there and done that. She'll be fine.
Wow, just think of the boogers she'll be touching on the toys!
Perhaps the custodian hadn't been in yet. Since it's summer and not school time the janitor is off and she'd had kids in and out for registration/enrollment.
It probably won't be like that during the school year when each school is fully staffed.
to answer your question about teachers accompaning them to the bathroom thats a big fat no...they have a whole class to watch, its not their job to make sure your child is ok in the potty. Ive heard stories from many of my friends about their kids having accidents because they no longer remind them to use the bathroom, they are EXPECTED to do it alone. Oh and wait for her to get all the wonderful "perks" of public schools. My son has come home with strep, pinkeye and 2 notices of lice in his room...bleh
Kindergarten bathrooms, are icky.
At this age, they are not rocket scientists about neatness in the bathroom.
It is also the Janitor, that can be called, by the Teacher, to clean the bathroom if/when there is pee/poop all over.
This is what my kids' school does.
IF a kids' bathroom, has pee all over or on the floors etc, the Janitor can be called. Or sometimes a kid will have vomited someplace. The Janitor can be called. They don't just work at 5:00pm when school is done.
AND, TEACH YOUR CHILD... to say to the Teacher "There is pee all over the bathroom/toilet and floor..... " so that, the TEACHER, can dutifully call, the school's Janitor to clean/mop/wipe it.
I taught my kids, even when that young, to do that. And they did.
I also taught them, to use, a papertowel to handle the door handles/toilet handles.
And to put, a toilet seat cover on the toilet seat, etc. or wipe it first before sitting on it.
You ALSO have to, teach your child, about these things.
AND since you noticed, that night that there was pee all over the bathroom, then you could have given the Teacher a head's up on that. She that he/she could make sure, that the Janitor cleans it.
And yes, in Kindergarten, the kids take themselves, to the bathroom.
The Teacher doesn't walk them.
LOL. If you really think about it, it really is gross to use any restroom that is used by the public. I always wash my hands before I leave the restroom, and I always use the towel I cleaned/dried my hands with to open the restroom door.
When you really think about it, when you close the stall door, you are putting your hands on the door and handle that the person in front of you used after they used the toilet and wiped themselves (hopefully) but before they had to wash their hands. EEEWWWWWW!!!! But that's life. Are you going to leave the door unlatched and open? Not me.
Teach your child to wipe the seat before she sits down. It won't be perfect, but it will be better. Teach her to wash her hands afterward and to open the door with the towel.
Good luck to you and yours.
It will be OK! Teach her to wash properly and how not to touch things after she's washed up. Usually the bathroom doors stay open or are just an open doorway so she won't have to touch anything when she's done. Send her with some hand sanitizer to keep in the classroom for a bonus clean up after.
No, the Teacher won't walk with her and wait...she can do it by herself...and the teacher would never get anything done if she had to walk each child to the restroom and wait, ya know?!
It's gross, but kids touch a lot of gross stuff. Everyday when my daughter comes home from school or camp, I tell her to go wash her hands.
If you are a germ-o-phobe, she will learn not to touch everything for the most part. I always make my daughter clean with me so she can see how dirty the house gets when you don't wash your hands. She is learning.
relax momma I am a huge germaphobe too but when it comes to some of these things just teach her how to wash her hands very good. we all got out of elementary school alive.
