pee - wee - loo - toilet?

[mps09]

Now there're a title for you!!

 

Any thoughts to help me think this through?

 

Who decides or how is it decided which phrases are acceptable and which are not?

 

My staff and I have had discussions previously about 'loo' versus 'toilet' - I prefer the latter....

 

We now have a new member of staff who tells everyone, including the children that she's going for a pee. I've asked her to use alternative phrases and she was a bit embarassed but ok with it. Then today a child asked me if I was going for a pee.... personally, I don't like this, and co-incidentally both the children and the staff member come from Poland - so is it a cultural phrase? is it ok to say that I don't want it used? Where would you draw the line?

 

Just wanted to collect some other views if that's ok!

 

Many thanks in advance.

MPS09

[flowlow]

well we go with what parents use to keep consistency, although I have had some real humdingers with that.

 

Personally I use wee if in doubt, although I am not sure why exactly just do, I have had children say that they need a pee and I have not been bothered by it.

I have used both loo and toilet too

[finleysmaid]

in our setting we have to chose from

pee-pee/ wee-wee/ shi-shi /shi-shu/ pee shi and pishu make water and toilet

then of course poo /kaka and ko-ko covers most of the other situations

just to add to this small girl today describing differences between her and her friend using biological words which gave one of my staff a bit of an amusing five minutes :rolleyes:

[Panders]

I think you have to use the expression the child will understand - not sure a member of staff should be sharing her personal needs, don't think I've ever told a nursery child I was off to the toilet! Have told a few who have asked where a member of staff is, that they are in the toilet.

 

Having got an understanding with the children the types of words they use for this "office" I would then educate them in the words you would like them to use - as a group of staff members you will all have to use the same words consistently.

[Stargrower]

We go with whatever words children use in their family.

Having said this, a few years ago, we had to draw the line when a little boy used to say that he was 'going for a log' (poo!)

Nice...

[mrsbat]

Must admit I have asked all staff to use the word toilet and if children say week, poo etc we say yes we'll take you to the toilet. Not sure why I just hate hearing week/poo all the time - I help in the reception classes at a nearby school too and they correct children who say wee etc.....

Did actually have a child say they needed to "push one out" yesterday when they needed to go for a poo!

[Cait]

One at preschool says 'I need to make water'

[thumperrabbit]

Toilet for me and do you need a wee

I'm with you, hate the phrase 'pee'

[Fredbear]

Oh my lots of various for bodily functions aren't there.

We listen to the words or gestures children make, as well as information parents have advised us of on their child's personal details form.

If a child says " I need a wee", we would reply "okay let's go to the toilet".

[lashes2508]

The word pee is often used by children with EAL so important to use what the child uses , although I draw the line at ' needing a s***'! Which is sometimes used by a child from a traveller background . If we feel the phrasing is inappropriate then will will suggest an alternative but it's much like the word 'naughty' used at home but not preschool !

[flowlow]

so now we have all those wonderful phrases for bodily functions what about the ones that cover passing wind!!!!

[Susan]

I think you have to use the expression the child will understand - not sure a member of staff should be sharing her personal needs, don't think I've ever told a nursery child I was off to the toilet! Have told a few who have asked where a member of staff is, that they are in the toilet.

 

My thoughts too.

[Cait]

so now we have all those wonderful phrases for bodily functions what about the ones that cover passing wind!!!!

 

Bottom burp. Pump

[Panders]

Must be my upbringing - I really don't feel comfortable about any words for "wind", every expression just makes me feel embarrassed - very weird, may be it's because I have been surrounded by males all my life! 2 brothers, 3 sons, 7 nephews plus the older males 5 uncles etc. As you can imagine there was a lot of hot air about described in all manner of ways :0)

[Guest]

same as thumper and fredbear. we had a rising 3 start with us after christmas who came in from outside and said "i'm just going for a p*ss. so agree with using home words within reason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[sunnyday]

Must be my upbringing - I really don't feel comfortable about any words for "wind", every expression just makes me feel embarrassed - very weird, may be it's because I have been surrounded by males all my life! 2 brothers, 3 sons, 7 nephews plus the older males 5 uncles etc. As you can imagine there was a lot of hot air about described in all manner of ways :0)

Panders - me too......

As for the original post - I always ask which words children use before they start with us - just to ensure that I know what they're talking about :blink: but then I repeat back using the word toilet.......

Further to that I certainly don't explain where I am going or what for unless specifically asked in which case I would answer something along the lines of "I'm just popping to the toilet"

[Guest sn0wdr0p]

We have a couple of Russian pre schoolers who say cuckoo when they need to go - took us a while to figure that because they say pee pee as well. We have a lot of local children who say they need to "go for a toilet" quite why I don't know and even my own children picked up the phrase - corrected by me every time. Speaking of which - having three boys and my husband talk of wind occurs rather a lot in my household. Oh well at least the dog is a girl but sadly as she is rather old now she has her own problems along that line and often takes the blame as well. I personally prefer the word pump and that is what I insist on at work and home. I hate trump and f**t. I love my job and often laugh inside so much at what comes out of their mouths.

[Guest]

Wee and toilet. It's what our children understand.

[MarshaD]

Lol! I do tell the children I'm going to the toilet otherwise given half a chance they'd follow me. For them I say potty / toilet but wouldn't correct them unless it's a colourful word. At home though my husband and children say pee. Drives my mother mad she hates it. Must admit not keen myself.

 

Talking of traveller children I had one who used relieve himself outside. That was a fun conversation.

 

Just yesterday I had a volunteer say bum. Not keen on that either.

[Greenfinch]

We have had polish children and also Latvian children and parents who say pee pee and Ka Ka.

I'm with above posts, tend to go with what they say although there are a few that have made me smile reading through them this morning!

I had a boy once say he'd just had a crap and was pleased to inform me he'd washed his hands!