Kindergarten kids and Public School Bathroom Safety

[Mamirez1]

My son's Kindergarten class sends its kids to the bathroom unaccompanied by an adult.  The bathroom is down the hall of the class and I wanted to know if it is safe to let 5yr olds go to the bathroom alone in a Public School?  I don't think they should be sent by themselves.  Recently my 5 year old was in the bathroom with another boy and my son put soap on the other boy's head and got in trouble.  But I question the safety of the school having allowed the children to be unaccompanied in the bathroom.  Boys will be boys and together may play in the bathroom if they are not being supervised by an adult.  What is your professional thought?

[babygirl6152]

oh I forgot to mention - the safety issue- we had k-2 go to toilet in one bathroom and older ones were not allowed- they went to another toilet- but without putting fears in your mind- that would be a concern- even at a very small school we had older ones going to restroom in an altogether separate room down the hallway- these older boys knew they were not allowed in the smaller boys' restroom- now as a group- all children were to have teacher monitors at group restroom times stand in the hallway  maybe 4 boys dismissed at once from the line and their adult presence "just outside" was helpful but we all know children's bladders are not on a perfect schedule and have to go intermittently though the day- "emergencies" without an adult.

[Mamirez1]

Thanks so much... I feel very good seeing comments from people who have worked in Public Schools.  I didn't say anything in front of my son.  The teacher notified the guidance counselor.  It was recommended that my son have a 30 minute session with the guidance counselor once a week, so he can learn to get along better with the other children.  My son had cursed in the lunchroom before so they feel these sessions will help him.  He is in a group with three other children and he brought home a little workbook with some sheets that he colored in and identified things that make him happy and angry.  I am looking forward to what else the sessions will offer him and what kind of evaluation will be done after 6 to 8 weeks of these sessions with the guidance counselor.  

[babygirl6152]

I  worked in public schools over 20 years. At Kindergarten age they go with another child unless they are known to get into trouble together. Boys will be boys and Yes they get into trouble and get disciplined  (I hope Mamirez1 you did not try to justify your child's behavior with that saying IN FRONT OF YOUR CHILD- which I have heard some parents have done- I am sure you were in every way respectful of the teacher and the school. well done!
I wish every parent would keep in mind that a child  being disciplined from adults that care about them including mom and dad is how they learn.
aid 821 everything you said is the same way we did in our school.

[Mamirez1]

Thanks for your thoughts.  I am glad its ok and safe. I do understand the liability issue that makes a lot of sense.

[aid821]

I agree, generally teachers are not allowed in the student toilets, only if there is a problem/emergency at the time and requires a teacher to enter. From my experience, kindergarten children usually go with a peer from their class to the toilet, and usually there are problems with mucking around, going for long periods of time, but generally with lots of teacher reinforcement, they usually get the idea pretty fast that going to the toilets and mucking around is not acceptable.

[Sandman2]

   The first rule is that you never let two kids from the same room go at the same time.  
   Second, if an adult is in the bathroom with the child, it opens up the adult to all kinds of liability problems.
   Most schools don't have enough adults around anyway.

So to answer your question.  Yes, it is safe.  But it does have to be done with guidelines.