ERIC partners with Bristol Family Hubs for new potty training animations

Potty and toilet training: A three-stage journey is a new film co-created by ERIC, The Children’s Bowel & Bladder Charity and Bristol Family Hubs. It offers an accessible introduction to potty training for parents and carers in an engaging five-minute animation format.

This will be followed by a similar film in 2026 for parents and carers of children with additional needs.
Both films will be shared with families in Bristol via Bristol Family Hubs, and ERIC will also make it available to Family Hubs, early years settings and other partner organisations nationwide to benefit as many families as possible.

The films were funded in part by donations from the John James Bristol Foundations, Burges Salmon and The Society of Merchant Venturers.

The project is part of a wider collaboration between ERIC and Bristol City Council to help promote timely potty training and improve children’s bowel and bladder health. The partnership also included the production of our e-Learning course for early years practitioners, collaboration around our All Aboard The Toilet Train campaign, as well as other resources and activities for families in the city.

Councillor Christine Townsend, Chair of the Children and Young People Committee, Bristol City Council said:

“At Bristol City Council, we want every family to have timely, practical support for potty and toilet training. This new animation, created with ERIC and Bristol Family Hubs, sets out clear, simple steps that parents and carers can follow and helps make a sometimes tricky stage feel more manageable.

“By sharing it through our Family Hubs and partner networks across the country, we are promoting good bowel and bladder health from the earliest years and making support easier to find. We are grateful to ERIC and our local supporters for their commitment, and we look forward to the film planned in 2026 for children with additional needs.”

Siân Wicks, CEO of ERIC said:

“We are proud to have collaborated with Bristol City Council and their teams to produce this new potty training animation. Our mission is to get everyone talking about good bladder and bowel health from birth. The recent Kindred Squared report again highlights the impact of delayed toilet training on a child’s first year in reception and beyond.

“We know that currently 1 in 4 children are starting school not toilet trained. Early Intervention is key. We also know that promoting good bowel and bladder health from an early age prevents complications such as withholding and constipation. We hope this easy-to-follow, fun, animation will support families in their toilet training journey. We are excited to be developing the film for children with additional needs in early 2026.”