Comments on: Watch Your Potty Mouth

By: Melinda

Melinda — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 05:12:47 +0000

I agree with the sentiment but don’t agree with not calling a spade a spade. Stinky is stinky. I feel trying to hide a description of something could lead to them feeling it’s something that they should be embarrassed by. Or feel they have to hide. I do as you say and try not to embarrass the kids with the description of the nappy, but I call a spade a spade and give the impression thier stink is acceptable and welcome to me. I feel you should be comfortable about your body functions around those closest to you. I ask if my daughter has poos for me in the same way I’d ask if she has a present for me. And I thank her like I’m some weirdo who loves pooey nappies (lol). I like to be an easy going and silly fun mum as often as possible, and so that’s easy to work in.

By: janet

janet — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 18:12:45 +0000

In reply to claire.

Sounds good, Claire! As long as you’re not offering leftovers for dinner… could be confusing… 😉

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 16:44:14 +0000

Janet- Here’s my question. I understand how this plays out with babies, but how do you communicate the need for cleanliness to a toddler who may pee on the floor on occasion or run from the bathroom without wiping their tush after pooping or without washing hands? How do you convey the message that human waste makes people sick if it’s spread around the house without making it “dirty” or “gross”? I’m invested in what language you would use? Thanks!

By: claire

claire — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 14:18:28 +0000

In reply to janet.

We’ve presented “poop” as the “leftovers” after your body takes all of the energy out of your food. Everything that eats has to poop!

By that same token, when we are done eating all the vegetables from the plants we put them in a composter to turn them into dirt. The composter takes the plants and turns them into dirt that the new plants can use for energy.

So, we ended up presenting poop as very similar to dirt…

Now… if we could get past “if i was a plant I would eat my own poop dirt.” Oops.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 11:45:59 +0000

These comments are as great as the article! When it’s time for a diaper change around here we say it’s ‘new’ diaper time or I ask, ‘Would you like a new diaper?’ I figure if I spill something on my shirt, which happens more than I like, I say I’m going to change into a new shirt. The same vocabulary is used with my son when we need to change his diaper or clothes for whatever reason. And I’m so glad I’m not the only parent who detests seeing photos of toddlers on their potties. If I won’t post a photo of my husband or myself doing something on Facebook, then I’m not posting a photo of my son doing it. Thanks for a great article.

By: janet

janet — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 03:26:20 +0000

In reply to Bryna. Sounds good, Bryna!

By: Bryna

Bryna — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 00:58:07 +0000

We are just wrapping up potty learning with our daughter and we have talked about poop A LOT. One thing that really helped her understand that it’s not that poop is dirty per se, was talking about the cheerful little bacteria that help us digest. They are very happy in the intestine, but in the mouth or stomach they make us sick. Short version of a conversation that is still going on months later, but it gave us a way to talk about keeping our hands and such clean of poop without poop being bad. And of course, EVERYBODY POOPS. Lots of talk about who poops? YOU poop. Grandma poops? Grandma poops. Dogs poop? Dogs poop! Forever and a day, but that’s learning. 🙂

By: janet

janet — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 03:48:11 +0000

In reply to Elle. Wow! Amazing story, Elle. Thanks so much for sharing. People like you give me tons of hope!

By: Elle

Elle — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 03:21:43 +0000

Another beautiful post, Janet. I always say to the families whose children I care for, that I take pride in the fact that their children trust me enough to let me care for them in this way.

And yes, all my senses are in full working order. 😉

A few years ago there was a child at my previous preschool who had very strong-ly scented, questionably healthy bm. Her mother said she hadn’t noticed because the child hadn’t voided soild waste at home in weeks! This was even more odd because she was only in the 3-day per week program! It turns out, her father had nicknamed this 3 year old girl “Stinky” and she became embarrassed to a point where she’d hold it until she could have a bm in peace at preschool.

After a conference with her parents, their understanding [and never meaning any harm to begin with], after a few extended olive branches she was able to pass solid waste at home confidently. The trick? She was in the bath one day when papa came in and pooped on the toilet. ha! Once she fully knew that papa made the same strong scent too, she was more at ease. I am so proud of them!

By: janet

janet — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 18:45:35 +0000

In reply to Analisa. This story is enlightening, Analisa. Thank you for sharing!