Toilet Tactics supports schools to create a positive, healthy approach to toilet use and bladder and bowel health.
It helps teachers, school staff, parents and students better understand children’s bladder and bowel health (continence). This includes the importance of:
- responding to the urge to go
- not holding on
- staying hydrated
- developing regular toileting habits.
These are key healthy bladder and bowel habits for life.
It also supports schools to improve or maintain the quality, safety and cleanliness of school toilets.
Poor toilet environments can negatively affect children’s physical and emotional wellbeing, making this work essential (references 1, 2)
Many children avoid using school toilets, which can contribute to continence problems (references 1, 2). Toilet Tactics builds understanding early, which encourages healthy bladder and bowel habits that can last a lifetime.
The program recognises that attitudes and behaviours often begin in childhood.
Children with continence issues are more likely to experience bullying or start bullying (references 1, 3, 5). They also often miss school days, affecting learning and wellbeing (references 1, 5).
Adequate, well-maintained toileting facilities support good hygiene practices, including hand-washing. They can also help reduce the spread of infectious illnesses such as gastroenteritis, colds and flu (reference 6)
When students understand and are involved in the Toilet Tactics program, they are more likely to respect school toilets and take pride in caring for them. This is the approach the School Toilet Charter aims to encourage.