The Early Years TogetherMovement Matters - Toilet Training and Self-Care Routines
In this episode of Early Years Together, Deborah Brown and Dr Jacqueline Young explore the important role that toilet training and self-care routines play in children's physical development, wellbeing, and independence. While physical development is often associated with running, climbing, and other large movements, self-care routines such as toileting, handwashing, dressing, toothbrushing, and feeding are equally significant learning experiences.
The episode highlights how physical development extends beyond gross motor skills to include children's ability to care for their bodies and manage everyday routines independently. They also explore practical ways practitioners can promote independence through modelling, visual prompts and allowing children sufficient time to practise self-care tasks without rushing to complete them on the child's behalf.
Throughout the discussion, listeners are encouraged to view everyday routines as meaningful learning opportunities rather than simply tasks to be completed. The hosts highlight how dressing, toothbrushing and mealtimes support fine and gross motor development, decision-making, resilience and self-esteem. The episode concludes by reminding practitioners that children develop these skills at different rates and that patient support, positive relationships and strong partnerships with families are key to helping children become confident, independent and capable in caring for themselves.
Don't forget to join us next time when we'll be discussing Core strength, Coordination and Gross Motor Development.
Episode Four References:
Department for Education (2026) Toilet Training. Help for Early Years Providers. Available at: https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/toilet-training
ERIC, The Children’s Bowel & Bladder Charity (n.d.) Potty training: how to start & best age to potty train. Available at: https://eric.org.uk/potty-training/
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (2025) National Dental Epidemiology Programme (NDEP) for England: oral health survey of 5 year old schoolchildren 2024. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/oral-health-survey-of-5-year-old-schoolchildren-2024/national-dental-epidemiology-programme-ndep-for-england-oral-health-survey-of-5-year-old-schoolchildren-2024
Hosts:
Deborah Brown www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-brown79
Dr Jacqueline Young www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jacqueline-young
Mixing Engineer:
Luke Young www.linkedin.com/in/lukeyoungcomposer
Title music by:
Luke Young www.linkedin.com/in/lukeyoungcomposer
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