Using Public Restrooms Alone (with Safety Rules): Building Privacy Independence in Children
Last Wednesday, during our visit to the mall, my 8-year-old asked if she could use the restroom alone. “I can do it myself now,” she said with confidence. Instead of automatically saying no, I remembered our family’s commitment to the Life-Ready approach. I reviewed our safety rules with her—checking that the restroom was well-lit and busy, locking the door properly, and calling out if she needed help—and then waited just outside. The look of pride and accomplishment on her face when she emerged told me we had a perfect opportunity to practice privacy independence in a low-stakes environment. ...