Free toilet training games for children with Down syndrome

Toilet training is about much more than taking the nappy off. Children need to understand words like wee, poo, wet and dry, know what a potty and toilet are for, and remember all the steps from pulling pants down to washing hands.

That’s a lot to learn, and for many children with Down syndrome, play is the best way in. Our continence specialist June Rogers MBE, working with a group of parents, developed a set of toilet training games to raise awareness and understanding of toileting in a fun, relaxed way. They are free to download and print.

The games work alongside our Pants4School toilet skill development programme. You can start playing long before your child is out of nappies.

The games

Bingo

Bingo helps children learn the words and pictures that go with using the toilet: potty, toilet, pants, wee, poo, clean, dirty, wet and dry. Start with a two-picture board, then move on to four and six pictures as your child gets the hang of it. The photo boards show lots of different toilets, so children learn that a toilet can look different at home, at nursery or when you’re out and about.

Download: bingo with graphics · bingo with photos (two pictures) · bingo with photos (more pictures)

Matching pairs

Memory is a difficult skill for many children with Down syndrome. Matching games help raise awareness of, and reinforce, the different parts of toileting. The cards include wee and poo pictures and wet and dry pants. You can start with just 2 pairs and build up to 20. You can use them all the way through the programme: talk about wee and poo at steps 1 and 2, then use the wet and dry pants cards at step 3 to get ready for step 4, when your child moves into pants.

Download: matching pairs cards · blank cards to make your own

Sequencing cards

The sequencing cards help children understand and remember the steps of using the toilet, including the ones that are easy to forget: pulling pants up, flushing the toilet and washing hands. Lay the cards out in order and talk through each step, or use them as a visual reminder in the bathroom. They’re especially useful at step 3, to get ready for step 4, and as a prompt while your child works towards doing it all on their own.

Download: sequencing cards (girls) · sequencing cards (boys) · blank sequencing cards

Dominoes

Our dominoes show lots of different potties, toilets, seat reducers and steps. Matching them up is a fun way for children to get to know the different equipment they might use.

Download: toilet dominoes

Drinks and bladders

A board game for up to four players that shows how drinks fill the bladder. Each player has a cup of water or juice. Land on a drink and you climb up the straw and have a drink; land on a bladder and you slide down to the puddle and refill your cup. The first to reach 30 finishes their drink and wins. The game is designed to encourage children to drink: whenever someone lands on a drink or a straw, they have a drink, which makes drinking fun. This is especially helpful for children who are reluctant drinkers. With older children, it’s a chance to talk about wee and the bladder: when the bladder is full of wee, we need to go to the toilet, otherwise we might have an accident.

Download: drinks and bladders (A4) · drinks and bladders (A2 poster size)

Tips for playing

• Keep games short and fun, and stop while your child is still enjoying it.
• Start small (two bingo pictures, two matching pairs) and add more as your child gets confident.
• Say and sign the words as you play, so the language carries over to the bathroom.
• Use the same words at home, nursery and school. You could share the games with your child’s setting too.
• Play little and often. Repetition is what makes the learning stick.

More help with toilet training

• Follow our step-by-step Pants4School toilet skill development programme
• Read our toilet training top tips and troubleshooting guide
• Visit our toilet training page for sessions and support

Some of the games are also on our Twinkl partnership page.