27 Toilet training in Vietnamese
Nicole Rousseau
The resource above was created to assist educators who are struggling with language barriers when toilet training (ACECQA, 2017), specifically language barriers around toileting. A childcare centre, for example, may have a child whose main language spoken at home is Vietnamese. The resource may assist when educators are transitioning the child from diapers to toileting and are having difficulties with language barriers and how to communicate effectively with that child to develop a positive learning process. It may be particularly helpful if the child is also quite nervous about toileting and cries when educators try to comfort her with words as the child gets more confused and stressed.
Hearing a language that is familiar to the child will help her understand what she is being asked to do and will provide her with a sense of belonging while feeling safe and secure (DEEWR, 2009). It will also help the child develop the skills required to become more confident with toileting and literacy. Given that Vietnamese language is a complex language that educators may find it difficult to remember and mimic to the child, a resource was created to make this process much faster and easier to access and express instructions as it includes sound. The quicker the actions, the less stress and confusion will be placed upon the child.
The educators can not only play the sounds for the child but also use it as a learning tool for their staff to hear common phrases associated with toileting in the Vietnamese language. This is to help the child become more independent and confident enough to use the toilet. The resource will also aid as a visual tool for literacy development with both the English and Vietnamese language alongside one another (Smidt, 2007). This type of resource could be extremely useful for many other developmental processes using common phrases in other cultural languages, for example (social learning, creative arts, separation upon drop off and even when using basic hygiene practices throughout the day).
