The Owl’s Nest

It’s Friday morning, I’m walking around the playground and from the other side I hear screams and squeals of delight. Half of the children are playing on the climber and slides. I get a little closer, stand back, and just observe from the side. I’ve observed children over the years do this many times. None of them are hurting each other, they’re just having a good time. Climbing up, sliding down, on their belly’s, backs, and upside down. They’re sitting forwards and backwards, getting up and running around to go up the steps to do it all over again. Occasionally, one will sit at the slides end and wait for their friends to make a “pile up” along the length of the slide. I get immersed in the joy they’re feeling as they continue to do this for a good portion of outside time. They’re learning so much at this moment, while participating in a little bit of “risky play.” They’re learning social-emotional skills, how to get along, cooperation, using their proprioceptive and vestibular senses, gross-motor skills and even resilience as they step over each other as one slides down and another climbs up. I’ve read enough articles proving this. The question is, why do I still hear so many teachers over the years constantly saying and even singing “Up the steps and down the slide?” or “Use the slide the right way?” What is the right way? The way we’ve been trained and conditioned to use something correctly. If there’s other ways to use something and they’re doing it safely, learning more skills, why not just let them? If there’s no harm in doing so, just let them have fun and go.

I’ve tried explaining this to so many colleagues and parents over the years, but a lot of them just don’t seem to get it. So many centers I’ve worked at in the past expect children to be fully potty trained by the time they’re 3 years of age to move up to the Three Year Old Classroom. No, this is not right. If a child is developmentally ready to move to the Three’s Class, move them up. It is completely wrong to hold a child back in a Two Year Old Classroom just because they’re not fully potty trained and in underwear. If they’re developmentmentally ready, just move them up. They usually catch up and show more interest because they see others using the toilet. I’ve heard many Three year old teachers say they won’t do diapers or pull-ups. “It takes up my time,” “It takes my time away from the other children,” “I just don’t do diapers or pull-ups,” are what I’ve always heard. Or the center policy is that they must be potty trained to move up. Well, guess what? It’s time for centers to change their policy. It is time for those teacher’s to do their job. Just do your work and help the child. I’ve been a teacher of three and four year olds and have had one or two still in pull-ups. Really, it’s not that hard. It only takes a few minutes to change a child. Granted, some children may learn it quickly and as young as two. For some children, it takes time to develop an interest in toilet training. Forcing them to be ready WILL NOT WORK. Yes, you can introduce them, but it doesn’t always mean they’re ready yet. When they’re ready, they’ll let you know, look for the signs and listen to them. From my own studies and experience, children aren’t fully trained up until the ages of 5-6, sometimes even 7, depending where they’re at developmentally. They could have developmental delays, as well. While I’m on this topic, I’d also like to add this little rant. I’ve heard teachers belittle a child, “Are you a baby or a big kid?” “Do you want to go back to the baby room?” I’ve over heard parents “I’m putting you back in a pull-up,” “You’re getting a _____-ing when we get home.” Stop scolding or punishing a child for not going on the toilet yet, or even in underwear and has an accident. It only makes matters worse, it could even have them regress. Accidents happen, they’re only young children and are still learning. Even, we, as adults, have accidents occasionally. That’s the truth!