‘‘Bursting’’ to Go and Other Experiences: Children’s Views on Using the Toilet in the First School Year

Tatlow-Golden, Mimi; O’Farrelly, Christine; Booth, Ailbhe and Doyle, Orla (2017). ‘‘Bursting’’ to Go and Other Experiences: Children’s Views on Using the Toilet in the First School Year. The Journal of School Nursing, 33(3) pp. 214–222.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1059840516646422

Abstract

Children’s use of the toilet at school, although rarely explored, is an important facet of school experience with consequences for physical and psychological health. A mixed methods study investigated views of 25 children (4–5 years) regarding potential stressors in the first school year, including views of toileting, in Dublin, Ireland. Despite very positive responses to school, most responses to toileting (15 of 25) were mixed or negative. Although some liked to go, or noted the toilets were clean, most indicated delayed toilet use (‘‘bursting’’ to go) and ambivalent or negative experiences such as fear of not identifying the right toilet, fear of being alone, lack of privacy, and potential bullying. Many children did not expect to receive help from the teacher. As delaying toilet use can have lasting health consequences, teacher–nurse collaboration could be used to develop whole-school policies to support children’s early adjustment in this sensitive area of functioning.

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About

• Item ORO ID
• 55650
• Item Type
• Journal Item
• ISSN
• 1546-8364
• Project Funding Details

• Funded Project Name	Project ID	Funding Body
  Not Set	Not Set	Northside Partnership; The Atlantic Philanthropies; Department of Children and Youth Affairs (Ireland)

• Keywords
• school transitions; early school adjustment; continence; bladder health; bowel health; toileting; school nursing
• Academic Unit or School
• Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) > Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport > Childhood, Youth and Sport > Childhood and Youth
  Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) > Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport > Childhood, Youth and Sport
  Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) > Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport
  Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS)
• Research Group
• Childhood Youth and Sport Group (CYSG)
• Copyright Holders
• © 2016 The Authors
• Depositing User
• Mimi Tatlow-Golden