Please note: this half-day masterclass event has a pre-requisite course requirement - Completion of Sensory Processing Differences (Day 1): The 9 Sensory Systems and Tools for Support

Globally, toilet learning has become more challenging and complex, and Aotearoa is experiencing this too. There is not a "one size fits all" approach to toilet learning, and some approaches such as toilet timing - going every hour on the hour, or social buy-in techniques ("Children don't wear nappies at school, you don't want to be the only one in your class wearing nappies do you?") can delay progress or cause more harm than help.

Some tamariki need more time and a more carefully planned approach. Some need a modified environment such as reducing sensory stressors or adding stabilising foot stools, and some need a careful, sequential developmental approach, building individual skills one at a time, while removing the barriers to success, delivered by a supportive adult. Join us to learn how to screen and start to differentiate the need, using a sensory based, developmental lens, that focuses on building skills and felt comfort and safety in the toileting development journey.

If you are feeling stuck supporting toilet skill development in complex or diverse tamariki (including those with High Health Needs funding for toilet support), new to teaching toilet skill development, noticing an increase in toileting avoidance in your service but have no clear understanding of the cause of the challenge, and no clear plan of how to progress the child, this learning opportunity is for you.

Key topics Elen will cover:

• Differentiated approaches to toilet learning
  • The core toileting skills, and how to dig deeper into why toileting might be challenging
  • Apply your knowledge from Elen's 1-day or 2-day Sensory Processing Differences workshops, to explore the functional effects of sensory differences in toileting
  • Take the next step, and learn to screen for sensory based toileting difficulty, to inform the intervention plan. Stop guessing or using trial and error, and start to finally solve the right problem!
  • Learn different toilet learning approaches that can be used for different challenges such as timed toilet learning or routine based toilet learning, so that you can make an informed intervention plan, based off your skill assessment.
• Common questions answered throughout the session - what do you do when:
  • A child is still having accidents long after toilet training has started?
  • A child wants to only wee in their nappy?
  • A child is withholding poo's?
  • You've found sticker charts are not working, what next?
• Mythbusting
  • "Wait for signs of readiness" - what signs are we actually waiting for?
  • "Boys just take longer" - do they?
  • "Removing the choice of having a nappy will help the child transition to undies" - Not for all children!
  • Are there different approaches we can be using for ADHD or Autistic children?
• The threshold for what is within your scope and when to refer on

All participants will receive a bonus digital resource pack to support implementation of toilet learning going forward.

Meet the Trainer: Elen Nathan is a specialist Occupational Therapist with advanced qualifications in sensory integration from Sheffield University, UK. With 20 years of experience across various sectors, Elen specialises in neurodivergence, neurodevelopmental conditions, and developmental trauma. She leads a specialist therapeutic service for children and families, focusing on sensory-based therapies such as sensory modulation, sensory integration, and providing supports for sensory processing differences. Elen is a sought-after trainer in New Zealand and Australia, known for her engaging and practical presentation style.