‘Just Sit Them on the Potty’
The article examines the growing trend of delayed toilet training in the U.S. and U.K., noting that schools are increasingly struggling with children who are not ready for primary education. It suggests that reliance on disposable diapers and a shift toward child-led training methods may be contributing to the issue.
Why it matters
This trend impacts educational resources and school readiness, creating new challenges for public school systems.
Parents who wait for their kid to be “ready” to toilet train may be making their own lives harder, not easier.
Illustration by Matteo Giuseppe Pani / The Atlantic. Source: Buyenlarge / Getty. August 15, 2026, 8 AM ET Share Save The time has come to admit it: The United States has a potty-training problem. In Utah, a law came into effect last year mandating that, with some exceptions, children will not be allowed to enroll in public school without first being toilet trained. Kansas lawmakers introduced a similar bill in January, and at least one district in Florida is considering a policy change that could force kindergartners to stay home until they are out of diapers.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in