Should Kindergartners Be Potty Trained Before School? What a New Kansas Bill Could Mean for Families

A proposed Kansas bill would require children to be toilet trained before enrolling in kindergarten. But what does “toilet trained” actually mean from a developmental perspective? And how does toileting connect to sensory systems, emotional regulation, and medical factors? In this episode, we take a thoughtful, development-first look at the conversation around potty training and school readiness. We discuss what the bill proposes, how other states have approached similar requirements, and why toileting independence at age five exists on a wide developmental spectrum. We also explore how challenges like constipation, pelvic floor dysfunction, sensory processing differences, anxiety, and life changes can all impact toileting skills. This conversation also highlights the realities schools face when supporting young students and why toileting struggles are often connected to neurological, sensory, or medical factors rather than behavior. Our goal isn’t to debate policy, but to help families, educators, and therapists better understand the development behind toileting readiness. Thanks for watching 🩷 Let us know in the comments - do you think toileting should be considered part of “school readiness,” or is it something schools should help support? 📚 Table of Contents 📚 00:00 Introduction 02:08 Overview of Kansas Bill 03:57 Kids Who Fall Through Cracks 06:50 Kindergarten Readiness and Hygiene 09:02 School Supports 09:46 Toilet Setup and Wiping Practice 12:22 Coaching Wiping Basics 12:42 Visual Step Charts 13:37 Toilet Setup and Balance 14:19 Why Kids Need Explicit Teaching 14:50 Interoception and Body Scans 17:30 Bathroom Smells and Sensory Overload 19:00 Public Bathroom Accommodations at School 20:15 Potty Training Laws and Advocacy ============= 🔗 Links 🔗 We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3 Read more about the Kansas bill: https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/0... Harkla Digital Courses https://harkla.co/collections/courses ==== Get More Content From Us! 👩‍💻 Harkla https://harkla.co/ 📰 Hakla Blog https://harkla.co/blogs/special-needs 🎧 All Things Sensory Podcast by Harkla https://harkla.co/blogs/podcast 🤳 All Things Sensory Instagram   / allthingssensorypodcast   🤳 Harkla Instagram   / harkla_family