When you teach Sunday School, you want to have time to teach and have fun with your children. Unfortunately, when you have young children, especially those under the age of 3, you often run into the problem of potty training. Some children are quick potty learners, while others are not. You may very well have a child who reaches age 3 and not be potty trained. As a result, he spends much of his class time pottying the kids, cleaning up accidents, or even changing diapers. Many Sunday Schools have a policy regarding potty training. Here’s a look at what you can do in this case.
Talk to the father:
One of the first things you’ll want to do is contact the parents of the potty-trained child. Ask parents whether or not they are actively seeking potty training at home, and if they do, find out what works or doesn’t work at home. If they are not yet potty trained, you may want to suggest some tips to get them started. Let them know that by the age of 3, a child should be closer to potty independence. You may also want to give all of your parents some potty training tips (find some great ones on the internet) at the beginning of the year so no one feels singled out.
Have a class policy:
The next thing you’ll want to think about is having a class “go to the bathroom” policy. Many day care centers and other churches do this. You will want to ask parents to take their child to the bathroom before coming to class. You’ll also want to ask parents to bring their kids in pull-ups and bring extra clothes in case of an accident. If you are against changing diapers, tell the parents. If you call parents in the middle of church to come and change their potty-trained child, then they might be more willing to work on this at home. There is nothing wrong with asking your parents this, but you may want to consider a church-wide policy on this matter.
Have a schedule in class:
Another great idea is to have a set time in your class to go to the bathroom. Have a fixed snack time (preferably at the end of class). Use this time to give the class drinks. Also, about halfway through class, make time to take everyone to the bathroom. Most children at this age are not completely independent and will need help in the bathroom. This will save you time and many trips to the bathroom in your class.
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