������̳

Home > Activities > 4-5 years

Going to the toilet on their own is a really important skill for children to learn at this age.

One of the best ways to help them get to grips with it is to make their trips to the toilet a fun learning experience.

Talk them through the activity and give them instructions to follow. This will help them feel comfortable with what can be a very daunting task for young children (especially when starting school).

In the video below, we show you how to help your child build the confidence to use the toilet on their own when they start school.

Lots of toilets can be opened from the outside, but if not, you might want to check and ask your child to close the door and stand nearby.

What are the benefits of talking your child through a trip to the toilet?

• This activity gives children an opportunity to follow more complex instructions and to sequence information - an important skill for all aspects of learning.
• Talking openly about the toilet lets children hear and use common social phrases associated with it.
• Giving them this vocabulary helps them communicate what they need and when they need help.
• Talking to your child openly about trips to the toilet can make it fun and not scary for them.
• Being confident using the toilet will make their early school experience more enjoyable.

Top tips for independent toileting

Being able to use the toilet independently is an important skill that will help your child with the big transition to primary school.

Make a set of instructions around going to the toilet that your child has to follow and remind them to check them every time.

You might want to support these with pictures that you can put in order with key words on them like "toilet", "flush", "sink" etc. This will help your child understand the key words and the order in which they have to do things.

This will help them build their vocabulary around this process and establish a routine they can follow anywhere.

Talk through this activity with your child and be there with them every step of the way. This will help make it a fun experience and not one to be scared of.

Encourage your child to ask questions if they want to and be open and honest in your answers.

Learning this skill together can also help children with other key skills, such as following instructions and sharing with other people.

Practising this skill regularly at home will help build your child's confidence. While you're at home, you can be there to remind them what to do and support them if they need help.

Going to the toilet together in public spaces, as well as at home, might help them feel more prepared for the school toilets.

When you're teaching your child these skills, it's important to talk to them about basic hygiene and hand-washing too.

Make sure it's part of the instructions you've written together. Encourage them to sing a song, like happy birthday, out loud to know how long to wash their hands for.

Always be aware of water temperature and teach your child not to make the water too hot.

This skill can take some children a very long time to learn, while others might ‘get it’ straight away. If your child isn't there yet, that's OK. The key thing is practice.

Visit for more tips and resources on toilet training.

Find another activity

In case you missed it