Monitoring Bathroom Breaks

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

We take group bathroom breaks where we all sit near the bathroom and each child goes individually (however, I can slightly see in to ensure that they are making good choices because I have a child door stop at the top to prevent fingers from being smashed) but, naturally, some of the children have to go in between the breaks as well. When this occurs, I trust them to go by themselves but sometimes they want to be a little wild in there while I am monitoring children in the daycare rooms playing.

It would be impractical for me to abandon the playing children to monitor the pottying child every minute they're in there to ensure that they're making good choices so my question for you is this ... is it a horrible idea to put a video baby monitor (or some other type of device) into the restroom for me to monitor them? I realize it has the "creepy" factor but it is the simplest solution that I am coming up with in my mind as I can talk through the monitor and say, "Please don't play in the water!" or whatever I need to directly say to them without leaving the playing children to go in there and check every 1 min. Or, am I just stuck having to go monitor 10 children use the restroom every minute or so when they are in there? Help. :confused:

[Blackcat31]

I have a dutch door on my bathroom.

If I am not doing a group bathroom break (like you described) and am right there, I have only the bottom portion of the door available for closing.

Just the fact that I can still see over the top of the door or that the door is open on top detours any bad behaviors or messing around.

[Second Home]

I keep the door open for all but the sa kids . If need be I will stand half way between the playroom and bathroon to be able to hear if they are fooling around in the bathroom and still see and hear the kids in the play room .

[Play Care]

With kids who make poor choices I stand at the door. It stinks (sometimes literally:: ) but I just don't have another way. I am finding that some of my kids are not using the bathroom when they are supposed to so they can purposely go during times we are otherwise engaged.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

With kids who make poor choices I stand at the door. It stinks (sometimes literally:: ) but I just don't have another way. I am finding that some of my kids are not using the bathroom when they are supposed to so they can purposely go during times we are otherwise engaged.

Bingo!!!

I wonder how much a dutch door would be. Hmmm.

[Blackcat31]

Bingo!!!

I wonder how much a dutch door would be. Hmmm.

My DH just cut our regular door in half. Left the hardware in place.

Just added a thin strip of wood on the top and bottom of each half where he made the cut so it had a finished (not rough or sharp) edge.

I think there are pictures some where on the forum of it...let me go check my attachments and find it.

ok, ETA...the pictures are in this thread (last post) https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65171

[MissAnn]

2 years ago the door was open. Kids didn't care. Kids didn't stare. It was nonchalant and easy

Then a parent complained. She went to other parents and stirred the pot. Those parents suddenly became overly concerned. Bathrooming became an issue. They talked too much and too long to their kids about privacy, using nonsense words to describe the parts they were supposed to be hiding.

Suddenly kids started caring and staring.

It's never been the same. Now I stand at the door hiding the kids inside. I miss the old days.

[melilley]

My DH just cut our regular door in half. Left the hardware in place.

Just added a thin strip of wood on the top and bottom of each half where he made the cut so it had a finished (not rough or sharp) edge.

I think there are pictures some where on the forum of it...let me go check my attachments and find it.

ok, ETA...the pictures are in this thread (last post) https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65171

What a great idea! I would have never thought of that!

[tehck_1013]

Haha, I love the round mirror you got in there BC, that probably helps a lot. At least then you can see if they're being good sitting on the toilet, or dancing around like a heathen splashing water LOL

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

My DH just cut our regular door in half. Left the hardware in place.

Just added a thin strip of wood on the top and bottom of each half where he made the cut so it had a finished (not rough or sharp) edge.

I think there are pictures some where on the forum of it...let me go check my attachments and find it.

ok, ETA...the pictures are in this thread (last post) https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65171

I wonder how difficult that would be for a crappy door. Our doors are hollow inside, not the great solid wood ones they used to have in homes, so would it work the same way? Thin piece of wood on top? Do I nail it? Glue it?

[Blackcat31]

I wonder how difficult that would be for a crappy door. Our doors are hollow inside, not the great solid wood ones they used to have in homes, so would it work the same way? Thin piece of wood on top? Do I nail it? Glue it?

The door I showed is also hollow.

Hubs, nailed it with a brad nailer. SUPER easy.

He bought hardware to put on the side of the door so that it could still function like a regular whole door and when I want to open just the top, I slide the latch open and the door functions as two separate pieces.

I'll go take a picture of the hardware on the side and add it. hang on....

[Blackcat31]

Haha, I love the round mirror you got in there BC, that probably helps a lot. At least then you can see if they're being good sitting on the toilet, or dancing around like a heathen splashing water LOL

:: that room is my preschool room. NOT my bathroom....

I do have a half door on my bathroom but didn't have a picture so I just used the photo of that room.