Parents of Schoolgoers  Discussion Forum

Hi! I am a working mother of a boy who is 3 years and 10 months old. My son has just begun school, he used to go to a playgroup last year. My problem is really is his irregular stool habits, what is more concerning is that he has been returning with his clothes soiled from school. He awakens on his own at 630 am, has a glass of milk and leaves for school at 710 am. He travels by school bus. His lunch which comprises 3 idlis/dosas/chapatis is at 945 am in achool. I am unable to understand why he is doing this, he has mentioned that he is not comfortable with the \";indian\"; style toilet in his school. We normally give him a light dinner of a couple of rotis or rice and one glass of milk before he goes to sleep at 1030 pm. I have read/heard that it is not good to force children on issues such as using the bathroom, and hence have desisted doing this.
He reaches home by 1230, my mother whom he is with all day, gives him a light lunch depending on his hunger levels, before making him sleep at 1 pm. He gets up at 430 pm, has a light snack and glass of milk and goes out to play in the evenings.

Does anyone have any ideas? He has been going to school for 10 days now, and this has happened on 6 occasions. I am really distressed by this, especially from an otherwise perfectly happy and healthy child. K.Radha replied. Do you mean he gets up himself and gets himself off to school all alone? WOW! Thats amazing, I don't know if I think I am comfotable with that or not but wow he is a very mature little man that you should be proud of. My daughter is of a similar age so i hope my advise will help.

Lots of kids have problems at this age. My daughter went through the same when starting school this january as she didn't like to use any toilets but the one at home. We made a huge deal of taking her out to other toilets and trying to get her to use them. When she tried we praised her lots and lots and lots. Perhaps you could do the same in trying to get him to learn other \";styles\"; of toilet. Yes I believe that forcing the issue can lead to far more problems and studies have shown the same. Maybe on the days he comes home without soiled clothes you could give him a treat... Tell him if he uses the bathroom at school he can have an ince cream or watch some TV... Whatever reward you choose will be perfect i am sure... Good luck rumsolar replied. Hi Star111,
Thanks a lot. It has been fine lastw eek, but honestly, am worried again today...will wait and watch :-) rumsolar replied. Hi Star111,
Thanks a lot. It has been fine lastw eek, but honestly, am worried again today...will wait and watch :-) star111 replied. i think if u reduce the milk intake then that might do u a little help. From the proper sources it is sufficient for a child if he drink two glases of milk, and give him some more time for him to adjust to this new environment. He is very yound let him get used to the school, bus, friends etc. Everything will be all right dont worry. They grow up very fast.