A groundbreaking initiative by Busy Bees is revolutionizing early childhood care by supporting earlier toilet training.
- Busy Bees’ scheme has lowered nappy waste by roughly 26% across over 400 UK and Ireland nurseries.
- The initiative equips parents and practitioners with skills to facilitate smooth toilet training transitions for children.
- Research indicates that 79% of parents noticed significant support from nurseries post-initiative.
- Key resources include role-plays, games, and improved communication to aid toilet training.
Busy Bees has introduced a pioneering program aimed at reducing nappy waste by promoting earlier toilet training. Through its initiative, Busy Bees has significantly decreased nappy usage by approximately 26% across more than 400 nurseries in the UK and Ireland. This program not only impacts the environment positively but also offers cost savings for parents and the childcare centers.
The initiative is designed to provide both parents and nursery practitioners with the necessary tools and confidence to recognize signs that a child is ready for toilet training. This includes delivering new and engaging activities such as games, vocabulary-focused play, songs, and role-play suggestions. Improved communication with parents plays a crucial role in this process, ensuring that children can transition out of nappies smoothly.
Research conducted among nearly 500 Busy Bees parents revealed that 79% received valuable support from their child’s nursery or keyworker after the initiative was launched, and 45% felt their children came out of nappies earlier as a result. Parents found conversations with nursery practitioners, advice on spotting readiness, and ways to discuss toilet training with their children particularly helpful. Activity suggestions that build excitement and understanding about using the toilet were also well-received.
According to the study, more than half of parents who have not yet toilet-trained their children feel apprehensive about the process. However, a substantial majority of 88% believe that their nursery and keyworker should play an integral role in aiding this developmental milestone.
The program was developed in response to the trend of children being toilet trained later, a pattern exacerbated by the pandemic, as confirmed by Ofsted reports. Deena Billings, European Quality Director and Safeguarding Lead at Busy Bees, emphasized the importance of toilet training for a child’s confidence and independence. She noted that Busy Bees utilized its 40 years of childcare experience to create resources that educate and inspire families and practitioners to support children during this important transition. As a result, many parents noticed an earlier transition out of nappies, benefiting both their finances and the environment.
Moreover, the program has empowered nursery staff to initiate discussions with parents about toilet training when children show signs of readiness. This initiative not only provides practical learning activities but also creates opportunities for effective communication between staff and parents. Conversations around non-verbal cues further assist parents in identifying their child’s readiness for toilet training.
Parents, such as Suzanne Buchan from Busy Bees Stowmarket, highlighted the benefits of this initiative. Through open communication and customized resources like potty training bags and reward charts, parents were able to tackle toilet training successfully. This collaborative effort between parents and nurseries ensures that children gain the necessary skills and confidence, leading to fewer accidents and a faster transition.
Busy Bees’ initiative has reshaped early childhood care by significantly advancing toilet training timelines, yielding environmental and financial benefits.