Ugh, Almost 5 Year Old Son Having Daily Accidents Again!

Actually, the best time to go is right AFTER meals (I say this as a son who had diagnosed encropresis and constant clogged toilets from emptying his underpants-smooshed poo). Eating triggers the bowels. Don't go every two hours, it's too much. Sit him on the potty after every meal, let him complain, be very matter of fact and simply say "this is the routine for now..." You could explain "things got messed up after this big move, so we need to re-train your body to do this on the potty, I know you don't do it on purpose." Absolutely use the step stool under his feet when he's sitting, and give him the DS or a book. Set the timer for 10 minutes, and get him off no matter what happened. Thank him/Praise him for trying, and go about your business.
Do your best to keep your emotions in check and have patience. He'll get through it, and so will you.

Sometimes this is a control issue. He had a lifestyle and friends in Hawaii and all of that changed when you moved. He had no control in the moving issue, and I am not trying to make you feel guilty. He may feel that he has some control in going poo and choses to go poo in his pants.

Honestly, I am not trying to make you feel guilty. I just thought I would offer an idea to what may be going on.

The most wonderful little book How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, and Listen So Kids Will Talk, by Faber and Mazlish, would recommend finding out what your son thinks about the situation, and getting his suggestions on how to correct it. Kids are remarkably good problem solvers when giving a little respectful coaching and support, and they are invested in making their own solutions work.

I hope you will read this book – you will seriously wonder how you've made it this far without it.

ADDED: If your son does not seem to be aware he's about to soil his pants, he could indeed be suffering from encopresis. Google for more information, and see if it fits.

My daughter did this a few months ago. We started daily putting a mark on her calendar for every day she kept her panties clean and dry. Once she got 7 marks, we went out on a momma/daughter day to have ice cream. The next time I increased it to 14 days... 21 days... 28 days... etc... Each time she got rewarded with a special 'date'.

Potty is a control issue. It's their way of controlling that and you. If you get frustrated over it or they get a negative response, they are going to continue the behavior. If she did not keep her panties dry, I would just tell her I was sad we weren't getting closer to our date... nothing more. No negative marks on the calendar and nothing else said.

During the day, don't make him sit for long periods of time on the potty. If he does, he will just hold it. Ask occasionally if he has kept his undies clean. If he says yes, give him a high five and move on. If not, have him take care of it, clean him self up and move on reminding him you are sad you aren't getting closer to your date. The other things is when sitting on the potty trying, interact with him by asking him to name things like things of a particular color or name the cars characters or anything he likes. Count these things on your fingers. It takes his mind off the task at hand and gives him your undivided attention.

These worked for us... I hope it helps! Good luck!!!

This could be a condition called encopresis. My son had this. It was very frustrating until I found out what it was. Our pediatrition treated it very well. It's not a medical problem, but it can be caused by stressful changes. Here's the article I read:
http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/encopresis.html

Does he have problems when he just needs to pee? Are you making him clean up his messes?

Maybe if you focus potty times, right before meals and right before outings. You may eat lunch right after you go potty. We will leave to go play at the park after you go potty.

If you know he should need to go, then make sure he goes prior to eating etc. I think he's just throwing a fit for the most part.