A Potty Policy that Welcomes All

As a passionate advocate for the developing child, I’m always reevaluating how I show up for my students in the dance studio. I find myself asking “but, why?” often. However, for much of my teaching career, I never asked “why?”. When developing my own dance studio program nearly twenty years ago, many of the policies and procedures I had in place were simply inherited from my mentors and previous teaching experiences. I am now on a mission to always understand the “why” behind why we do what we do, the way we do it. If I’m presented with situations where my response is simply “it’s how I was taught” or “it’s how my old studio did it” or “it’s just what I’ve always done”, I pause, reflect, and reassess.

Being intentional about self-reflection and continuous improvement has led me to evolve many of my practices. One common goal among these evolutions is that I want to be the dance studio that welcomes all. I want to be the dance studio who accepts the children others turn away. I want to be the dance studio who has a place for every child, so that every child has the opportunity to dance.

If you also desire to be the dance studio who welcomes all children, perhaps it’s time to reevaluate your potty policy. I’ll admit, when I first started my studio I only accepted children who were potty trained. If you asked me why, it’s probably because it’s how my old studio did it. But as I developed programs for independent toddlers and caregiver-tot classes, it became clear that the same acceptance should extend to older children who are not yet potty trained. If we can accommodate younger children, why not make it work for everyone?!

Here’s my updated potty policy:

1. Diaper Policy: If a child is not potty trained, they must wear a diaper or pull-up during class. An adult must remain nearby to assist with bathroom needs.
2. Bathroom Assistance: If a child cannot go to the restroom independently, an adult must remain nearby to assist with bathroom needs.

Why this change makes sense:

1. Class Duration: Our classes last between 30 to 45 minutes, so the likelihood of a child needing a diaper change during this time is minimal. If an accident does occur, the caregiver is close by to manage it.
2. Potty Training Statistics: According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, only 40-60% of children are potty trained by age 3. Requiring potty training excludes a significant number of potential students.

Here are some myths to help you shift to a new policy:

• Children who are not potty trained are not old enough to follow directions.

This is simply not true. When your instructions are developmentally appropriate for the stage of development you are teaching, children will follow them. It has absolutely nothing to do with if they are potty trained or not.

• I do not want to change dirty diapers.

I have never changed a diaper in my entire teaching career. By having caregivers in the vicinity, you simply take them to their caregiver for clean up.

• I don’t have time to deal with accidents.

Children who ARE potty trained are the ones having accidents. If they have a diaper or pull-up on, there is no cleanup (on your end) needed. Accidents are a normal part of development, and you will have kids who have been potty trained for years have accidents during class. It’s our job to be prepared in the classroom for these to happen. You can read more about studio essential kits HERE. It is imperative that you remain loving and kind when accidents occur. The child should never be shamed or humiliated. If it is something that is happening often, speak with the caregiver.

Sometimes, creative solutions are necessary. For example, in order to have our youngest dancers who are not potty trained perform in our recital, they wear pull-ups with their costumes. One caregiver remains backstage with them as they wait for their turn to dance. They perform early in the show. When the dancers enter the stage, the caregivers walk from backstage to a designated spot in the auditorium to watch their dancer shine. When the dance is completed, they are released to their caregiver and return to the audience to watch the remainder of the recital. I would have NEVER considered this back when I first started my studio. I am so thankful this is the policy at the studio I teach at now. The development that happens during our 9-months together is remarkable and I love celebrating them on recital day!

Lastly, there may be instances where you need to work closely with caregivers to come up with individualized plans. As early childhood educators, this is what we are called to do. It takes a village to raise a child. What an honor it is to be a part of that village! Be open, be understanding, and be the dance studio that welcomes all.