Kindergarten teacher shocked by spike in diaper-wearing students!
Brenda Capone Kingston, known as @Ms3rdGrade on TikTok, recently ignited a heated debate online.
The Arkansas-based educator, boasting 43.7K followers, was taken aback by a trend she’s noticed in her own classrooms.
Diaper dilemma exposed.
The issue? A surprising number of children are starting kindergarten still wearing diapers.
“Diapers in kindergarten,” Kingston began in a now-deleted TikTok video, “This has been a conversation with fellow teachers for the past several weeks.”
She emphasized that this wasn’t about children with special needs, but rather, it was a widespread phenomenon.
“The amount of kids in diapers in kindergarten—I had no idea,” she said, genuinely puzzled.
As she spoke from her classroom, Kingston reminisced about her own parenting experiences.
Parenting standards questioned.
“I remember when my kids went to school… your child had to be potty-trained before you could send them to kindergarten,” she explained.
Her own children, now in their twenties, were potty-trained before attending school, a stark contrast to what she’s witnessing now.
“I don’t feel like I imagined that,” she continued, seemingly confused by the change in standards over the years.
State standard revealed.
Kingston then revealed her shock upon learning that Arkansas, her home state, does not require kindergarteners to be potty-trained.
“I’m like, ‘Why?’ Why do we have so many five- and six-year-olds still in diapers?” she wondered aloud.
Nationwide concern explained.
This question isn’t just Kingston’s—many teachers across the country are scratching their heads.
The landscape of early childhood education has shifted dramatically in recent decades.
Parenting philosophies have evolved, and with them, the expectations placed on young children.
Historically, potty training was considered a crucial developmental milestone before entering formal education.
But recent trends suggest that more and more parents are delaying this process.
Some speculate it’s due to a growing emphasis on allowing children to develop at their own pace.
Others believe that the rise of flexible parenting styles and busier family schedules contribute to the delay.
Teacher’s empathy exposed.
“You kindergarten teachers that are dealing with this, bless your heart,” Kingston empathized, shaking her head.
She highlighted the extra burden on educators, who now must balance teaching with managing more diaper changes.
Video goes viral.
Kingston’s video quickly went viral, resonating with teachers and parents alike.
However, it also sparked backlash from those who felt she was shaming parents.
In a follow-up video, Kingston addressed the criticism, saying, “It’s so sad that somebody took something innocent and turned it into something harmful.”
She clarified that her intent was never to judge but to shed light on a growing issue in education.
“I really try to keep my page upbeat and positive,” she added, visibly frustrated by the backlash.
Support emerges for teacher.
Despite the controversy, many parents and teachers continue to support her call for a discussion on the topic.
This isn’t just a local issue; it’s becoming a nationwide conversation.
In March, Utah passed a law requiring potty training as a condition for kindergarten enrollment.
This legislation, according to Rep. Douglas Welton, was in direct response to the increasing number of untrained children entering school.
“Thank you to everyone who reached out,” she said in her follow-up, hoping to turn a controversial moment into a constructive dialogue.
Because, in the end, it’s about finding what’s best for kids—and maybe, just maybe, ditching those diapers sooner rather than later.