Daycare boy is pottying in the backyard...

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I know why he does it. It's convenient, fast and more fun than going inside.

But, I need him to stop it, and he doesn't seem to think it's worth the bother.

He'll be three in May BTW.

He's been doing this all day, every day for a few months now. He's doing it at home too. He will actually crawl out the doggie door at home just to go potty.

Monday and today, he peed on a bike. Yesterday, he peed on the patio. I have a very small yard. So, the kids can go in and out when they want. (if the door is open) and I am not right behind him to see him do this every time.... but, I'm not too far away, and I usually catch him... so, then he feels bad (sad for getting caught) He thinks I can't see him.

Surely someone has dealt with this before???

[treehugginhippie]

He sounds like a dog marking his territory, lol! ( sorry) I don't have personal experience w/ this but perhaps the parents have encouraged this behavior at home? I know my friends have their sons discretely pee on a bush or tree (no potty nearby...that should be essential when they set up a park I think). Have you spoke to them about it yet?

[Plaid Leopard]

First I would make sure that he potties before he goes outside.

"Right, it's time to go in the yard. Everyone please go peepee in the toilet before we go out." oh, just reread that they can go in and out)

Remind him gently that in your house, everyone must go potty in the toilet. That other people don't want to step in his peepee or find pee on their bikes and toys.

And if he pees on the bikes or patio again I would hand him a towel and ask him to clean it up.

And ask his parents to speak to him about it too. He's not too young to learn about respecting rules and property in other people's houses.

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Originally Posted by treehugginhippie

perhaps the parents have encouraged this behavior at home?

They did start this at home. But, it's out of hand at home now too.

They have a pool, and when they are all swimming, they just send him off to the side to "pee on a rock". So, he thinks thats pretty cool, and prefers that over the whole ordeal of finding a toilet.

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Originally Posted by Plaid Leopard

And if he pees on the bikes or patio again I would hand him a towel and ask him to clean it up.
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That's what I think I'll do if he pees on the toys again. I can't do much if it's a tree or a rock.

Can't rub his nose in it and swat him with a newspaper.

[LCBMAX]

Can you bring some potties outside - maybe he gets to choose which one he likes best... Then, stop him often while playing and offer the potty. In other words, treat it (gently, without shaming) like a toilet training issue, not a decision-making issue. Maybe your little friend would like to play target practice in the location of your choice, into a potty that makes sense to him. Not to encourage target practice, but it honors his outdoor comfort and your need for a sanitary play area for all.

I wonder if my 21 month old will be doing this at 3 since he is essentially an EC graduate, but really prefers outside peeing. At least he's willing to have me catch the pee in a bowl/ potty.

[Equuskia]

Originally Posted by nextcommercial

They did start this at home. But, it's out of hand at home now too.

They have a pool, and when they are all swimming, they just send him off to the side to "pee on a rock". So, he thinks thats pretty cool, and prefers that over the whole ordeal of finding a toilet.

I think you need to let them know that you can lose your daycare license over this (after all, pee all over the place in considered unsanitary) and they need to collaborate with you to stop this problem. Yes, accidents happen, but peeing all over the place is bad manners. Not that this is the boy's fault. If the parents have always taught him that this is acceptable, then he's obviously going to keep doing it. The onus of his behavior should definitely be put on the parents. You shouldn't have to be subject to cleaning up his pee all over because of his parents' lack of...judgment.

[BellinghamCrunchie]

DD loved to pee (and poop!) outside at that age. We hadn't encouraged it. I think for many kids, its just plain fun.

This stage passed when she became more aware of what the other kids were doing, and cared about the other kids opinions, around 3.5, I think. Up to then we had to provide a whole lot of supervision while outdoors. She would usually attempt to go off by herself, so we usually knew when it was going to happen. Then we would take her inside to pee.

We tried to make peeing in the potty as much fun as possible - peeing on a cheerio, sitting on the seat backwards, and using M&Ms as rewards. Something worked and she doesn't pee outside anymore (except when hiking in the woods).

[columbusmomma]

Just wanted to say that my neighbor, almost 8 still does this in the middle of the neighborhood at times, WTF?!?! I think after 2 I stopped my son from doing this.