Loughton Manor First School

🚽 Does your child feel anxious about using the toilet?

Toilet anxiety is more common than many people realise, and it can make toileting a stressful experience for children and families.

A child may develop toilet anxiety after an unpleasant experience, such as after an episode of constipation, a loud hand dryer or a strong smell. Sensory factors like bright lights, echoes, an uncomfortable toilet seat or unfamiliar environments can also play a role.

Over time, these experiences can lead to feelings of worry whenever they need the toilet. Some children may even start holding in their wee or poo to avoid going altogether, or have wee and poo accidents

💡 How can you help?
✅ Acknowledge and validate their feelings.
✅ Identify possible triggers and causes of anxiety
Create a calm, familiar, and welcoming bathroom environment.
✅ Use games, music, or pictures to make the space more comfortable.
✅ Build confidence through other self-care skills, such as handwashing or getting dressed.
✅ Break toileting into small, manageable steps and then build on this.
✅ Use distraction techniques where appropriate.
✅ Stick to predictable routines.
✅ Talk openly about anxiety and feelings.
✅ Focus on positive achievements, not just using the toilet e.g. washing of hands.
✅ Check for constipation or bladder issues, as these can make toileting more difficult and will need treatment before progress can be made. See our advice for children with constipation for more information.

📖 For more advice, practical tips, and resources on supporting children with toilet anxiety, visit the ERIC website: https://eric.org.uk/information/toilet-anxiety/

Milton Keynes City Council EHCP+ EHCP+ is the updated Short Breaks programme for children and young people with a finalised EHCP by Milton Keynes City Council. It provides drop‑off sessions,…

Reading books pt2

Here are some more tips to support book reading.
When reading with your child remember to:
- Get face to face
- Let your child lead (e.g. talk about what they point to)
- Give your child a chance to take turns
- Keep language simple
- Repeat words again and again.

Here are some ideas to try:
Make your own books, for example:
Picture books of things your child likes

Interactive books (e.g. flaps- hide an interesting picture under each flap)

Picture books about special event
(e.g. birthday, holiday etc)

Here is a link for Cbeebies parenting called ‘Making storytime magic’ with lots of information about book reading

CBeebies Parenting: Making storytime magic - Tiny Happy People

Book reading Pt1

Reading books together is a great activity for your children. Benefits are, it helps to increase attention span and concentration, learn more vocabulary, and talk about things which wouldn’t happen every day.

Great places to read and explore books is your local library. MK has 10 libraries and it’s free to join, here is a link for more information

https://www.mksendlocaloffer.co.uk/milton-keynes-libraries

International cat day

It was international cat day over the weekend
To mark the occasion, why not see if you can talk to your little one about cat’s today! Show them some pictures of cats, look at a book with pictures of a cat, or see if you can spot one on your walk!


There are lots of describing and action words you could use when talking about cats to develop their vocabulary

Action words
“Cat is sleeping”
“The cat climbed the wall”
“She’s eating”

Describing words
“Pointy ears”
“Long tail”
“Soft fur”

Neurodivergent Not Naughty - Support group for parents/carers.

Every Monday throughout the summer holidays
10am - 11:45am via Zoom

Come and join a supportive group run by parents/carers of neurodivergent children.
You will find understanding, encouragement, and connection, in a safe space where lived experiences are valued and celebrated.

Together, we share knowledge, support each other through challenges, and embrace the strengths that neurodiversity brings to our families

For information call on 01908 254876 or email [email protected]

Inclusion Football Programs by MK Dons Community Trust

Sundays at Woughton Dome, Newport Rd, MK6 3EA

Sessions for various abilities and age groups.

For more information please call 01908 622888 or email [email protected]