Kindergartener Peeing in Panties

Talk to the teacher, tell her that kiddo is peeing on the playground since she can't get in to the bathroom. Ask the teacher to say "Kiddo, go to the bathroom please" before it's time to go outside. If kiddo won't go then tell teacher to say "Kiddo, when you go pee we can go outside". Then stand there until kiddo goes in and sits down to pee.

Don't ask, tell her to go pee then stand there and wait.

I would tell her that she should ask to use the washroom at the beginning of each recess, whether she feels like she needs to go or not. Go over that plan with her teacher as well. Also, take her to the doctor and rule out any physical problems.

Our school does the same thing as far as recess goes. The kids can't just go back in to use the washroom, they must see a teacher to get a bathroom pass. We do not keep extra clothes for kids. If a child were to pee his/her pants then the parents are called to come with clean clothes. The teachers do take the kinders for regular washroom breaks and we do not often have accidents at school.

Talk to your daughter and teacher and ask that she make sure your daughter goes to the bathroom BEFORE recess. Make it a habit. Find out what time they go for recess and do the same thing at home.

I supervise at lunch/recess and even though we tell the kids to visit the bathroom before they go out, they often forget. I'll then have kids come up to me not two minutes later and ask to go to the bathroom. I always let kids go to the bathroom because there is nothing worse than holding it! It's useless to ask a kid, "Why didn't you go before?"

The doors are locked for security reasons. We have keys to get into the building. We are not "locked out of the school". I cannot tell you how many times I have stopped adults from trying to get into the school through the recess doors! They look at me like I'm the crazy one! That I'm inconveniencing them! It's scary. I don't care that you're dropping off a lunch or a child or picking up a child. Everyone must go through the main entrance, which is controlled by the office unless they have a school ID badge. No exceptions. I even told a Police Officer that he had to use the main entrance. I'm sure that was a test though.

I'm sorry to go off on such a tangent! I had to address the "locked out of the school" comment that said it's illegal. It's not. We do it for safety reasons, but all teachers have keys to get into the building.

Why does she wait until she can't hold it anymore?

You need to go over with her (again) the rules/procedures for bathroom use at school. Get her teacher involved. It may be an issue of her not wanting to ask or being unsure or unclear about HOW she is to ask, so she waits hoping she can hold it until the teacher gives them "bathroom break time" or something.
Also, make sure she understands that when the teacher does give them bathroom break time that she GO even if she doesn't think she needs to.

Talk to her teacher . There should be set times for the kids to go . Ask the teacher to have her go before lunch or the same time everyday . Seriously they need structure. I still make my kids go before they leave the house daily . I know at school they go to the bathroom before lunch/recess. She will be fine if the teachers actually give some guidance on this . Don't worry :)

Jodi, you're not crying in front of her, are you? If you are, then you are part of her problem. You MUST NOT do this.

Her issue is vastly different from yours unless she has been diagnosed as having a medical problem with her bladder. What you are describing is a behavioral issue. Stop projecting your experience onto her. You are enabling this behavior and practically rewarding it by empathizing with her.

Instead, she needs the natural consequences of peeing her pants. Talk to her teacher about directing your daughter to go to the bathroom. She should have to do this before getting to enjoy going out on the playground.

I really mean it when I say that your daughter is NOT you. At home, she doesn't get a privilege until she goes to the bathroom first. If she pretends to go and then pees her pants, she needs to have to go to her room and lose her privileges. She tells you that she peed her pants, and that's a plea for attention. If she's doing it at home after you are TELLING (NOT asking) her to go to the bathroom, then it's manipulative behavior and you need to treat it as such.

Stop crying about this and tell your daughter to stop peeing her pants or lose her privileges.

My daughter had accidents in Kindergarten.
And in 1st grade.
Now that said, ALL of my daughter's Teachers, from Preschool to Kindergarten to 1st grade, all UNANIMOUSLY said, that kids in these grades and ages, have, accidents.
It is, childhood.
And normal.
At my kids' elementary school in fact, the Health Room stocks.... clean t-shirts/underwear and shorts, for the kids who may have accidents. And NO fuss is made, about it. NO Teacher, makes it a big deal, nor any school staff. NOR any of the kids that were in my daughter's class when she had accidents.
NO ONE, ever made fun of her. The Teacher made NO focus on it. She helped my daughter discreetly. And then told me privately if my daughter had an accident.
At NO time, did any Teacher make like my daughter was abnormal.
ALL her teachers told me, that kids these ages and grades, have accidents. AND that they may still sleep in night diapers and have accidents too at night.
Normal.
But that, most parents find it all, very embarrassing.

My daughter's teachers, NEVER EVER, made it a big deal.
Neither did I.
Its okay.
They grow out of it.

BUT if your daughter has no access, to the bathroom... then that is a problem. Because then, NO child can use the bathroom and they must all have to hold it???
That is NOT right.
At my kids' school, any kid can use the bathroom anytime, even if that is during lunch or recess.
I would, talk to the school/Principal or Teacher and ask them, how come the Kindergarten kids cannot use the bathroom because they are locked out during recess????
That is absurd.

Just to add to this, be sure to send her an extra set of clothes if you aren't. It was encouraged when my son went to K and guess what? The kid peed on himself in the bathroom (aim and all) and needed them.
If she has a change of clothes it might help with the her smelling like pee all afternoon - if you already do send clothes - awesome!

Teach her to go pee even before she "can no longer wait."
Just get her in the habit.
And what do you mean they are "locked out of the building" during recess? I'm pretty sure that's illegal, all over the US, so call the school and ask.

I would talk to her teacher and ask that she be reminded more to go to the bathroom. That way she'll retrain herself to go on a regular basis.

We had a neighbor boy with this problem. The parents got a watch with an alarm (i.e. little beep). They set the alarm to go off every two hours. Their kid had to go to the BR every time it rang. It worked! Make arrangements with the teacher to allow her to go when it rings. This is classic bladder training.

this is somewhat common in kinder and first grade..

last year my son wouldn't poop at school.. but at pick up time.. he had to go real bad and went in the school bathroom and pooped with me outside the door.

this year in first he told me that he wet his pants casue he had to go real bad.. and his pants had a stuck button... so .. totallynormal..

but talk to the teacher.. and see if they cant encourage your daughter to go potty before recesss..

Since you had corrective surgery is it possible your daughter has no control and needs the same type of surgery now? If you haven't talked to your pediatrician please do. Remember, she is not YOU though and don't assume her issues are the same though. I would try Gamma G's approach first. this may just be a maturity/take a little time thing. So it's an opportunity to teach patience.

Huh. I thought I had responded to this.

Short version: work with her on not waiting so long and talk to the teacher (send an email). With my DD, one of the things we are doing is reminding her at home not to wait. No story, puzzle, game, or TV show is more important than going potty. Do not wait. Go potty when there is opportunity to go, like if we pass a bathroom in the mall. At least try. Encourage her to use the restroom every day before recess and talk to the teacher about the bathroom protocols.

If she smells, then, frankly, show her. Talk to her about how if she pees on the swing, then someone else sits in her pee and that is gross. If her underpants are stained or smelly, show her. Teach her that even a little bit is still a problem. People have noses.

Praise her when she's dry and not smelly. If she's been dry, then allow her to wear a favorite outfit. If she hasn't been, then put her in easy to change and easy to wear clothes.

You are not alone. You can get through this. Try not to let your past color this problem.