Toilet training and childcare...

[peanutter]

DS1 had to be TT (within reason - an accident here and there is accepted as being normal) to go into the "kinder" room when he was 3. He would have had to stay in the toddler room, otherwise.

I *think* it's because there's 4 kids per carer for the older room, but 5 kids per carer in the baby and toddler rooms.

Also, the activities, set up etc are designed for TT kids - change stations, assumptions about them being dry and able to say when they need the toilet (plus regular toilet stops of course) etc.

So yes, I think it will be pretty standard across the board.

Take a breath, it's all fine - either he's ready or he's not, and you'll find out when he's there where he's at.

And if he doesn't like being in the toddler room, then he'll have *great* motivation to become dry!

That was the case with DS1 - his best friends were moving up, and we had to tell him that he could go too - once he was in undies, and staying dry.

He got on board very quickly after that. It was just a question of motivation and encouragement - and at child care, they should get both

Good luck!

[mambo]

Thanks ladies...I was just worried that maybe it wasn't the norm but fully understand why its pushed. I'm hoping that by the time he's off to cc we will have mastered it..worse case he may have to go into the toddler room..which as you said peanutter might be just the motivation he needs to stay dry!

[feeb]

DS1 was moved up to the kinder room when he was still not toilet trained. He was in the room 2 months before he was, was never an issue at all. He had been at centre year before as well and they knew he wasnt, there view was room is 3-6 year olds some will be some wont be when start in room.
I know to start sessional kinder was told they all had to be TT but I know of 1 child who was at 4 yr old kinder and wasn't TT but they had to ring his mum if he needed changed.

DS2 is in kinder room this year and has been wee TT for a year but poo he still goes and puts a nappy on!, he has amazing hold on skills and has never once asked there for a nappy to do a poo he waits till gets home!! NEVER has a poo accident at all.

[squeezles]

Being 3 you might find he is quick to train anyway!

[wysiwyg]

I *think* it's because there's 4 kids per carer for the older room, but 5 kids per carer in the baby and toddler rooms.

It is definitely due to ratios but I think the above are not right - the ratio is more kids per carer the older they are, and for over 36 months is something like 1:10 whereas under 3 is 1:5 and under 2 is 1:4. Mixed age groups the ratio is proportional to number of children in each age. As they have high number of children per carer in older rooms (3-5), then is difficult for them to have one go off and to assist with toileting / change nappies etc. (Centers may have more staff per room than the ratio demands)

[Floweryfields]

It would be a centre to centre decision. There is no regulatory requirement for toilet training to be complete by a certain age group, however there is regarding toilets/nappy facilities iykwim. Many centres only have toilet access for certain age groups and no nappy facilities so this may well be the reason.
We still have nappys in our 3 year old group because we do have nappy changing facilities in that room still. Our children that go into our kindy group (4 by June) do need to be trained as there aren't facilities for them (or the time needed either really).