my body, my say — the toilet truce 🚽✋
a story about body autonomy, student-led advocacy, and collaborative problem solving
🎧 listen to the episode
📝 about this episode
james and nate are curious, clever, and always questioning things that don’t feel fair — like the school toilet rule that says “no going after recess!” 😖
in this playful, empowering story, the boys create a toilet pass system and lead a student petition 📝🚽 — all in an effort to help school become more body-friendly.
this episode explores autonomy, advocacy, and the idea that school routines can (and should!) make room for real human needs.
💭 reflection questions
– when does your body say “go”? 🚻
– have you ever felt worried about asking to use the toilet?
– what helps you feel safe and comfortable at school? 🏫
– if you could change one school rule, what would it be?
💛 note for grown-ups
this story was co-created in therapy with a few brave sparks 🚽 who have all navigated the stress of toilet timing at school. the situations depicted are real, and the solutions were generated collaboratively by the children themselves. 📝
for many neurodivergent children, body signals — known as interoceptive cues — aren’t always noticed until they feel very strong. some children may also use toilet breaks as a way to cope with stressors they feel in the classroom.
when we trust children to listen to their bodies, we often discover they have genius (genius!) ideas for helping themselves feel more comfortable in uncomfortable situations. 🌟 we can support them with no judgement — just curiosity, flexibility, and care.
this story features the voices of the brave sparks who helped shape it. 🎙️ it uses light humour and familiar classroom settings to normalise body cues, support self-advocacy, and encourage collaborative problem-solving.
💡 therapy tips to try
– create a visual “toilet pass” system with minimal fuss 🚽
– practise asking for toilet access using scripts or AAC 💬
– role-play student–teacher conversations 🎭
– build a “body needs” chart together ✍️
– explore toilet cues (interoception) with playful metaphors (like bursting balloons 🎈 or full water bottles 💧)
💡 a gentle note
these therapy tips were created with the brave sparks who helped shape this story in mind. your child’s needs may be different, so it’s always a good idea to check in with their therapy team. the good news? these ideas can do no harm — and they might even spark some fun, connection, or curiosity along the way 🌟
🎧 credits
✍️ written by:
trust children and the kids we support (with a sprinkle of ai magic)
🎙️ voice:
the brave sparks who helped shape this episode and the brave sparks team
🎛️ sound mixing:
brave sparks team
🎶 music:
unforgettable moments by universfield — freesound.org/s/698550 — 🎧 attribution 4.0
🔊 sound effects include:
🏫 classroom ambience by laserlife — freesound.org/s/361400 — cc0
💦 splash by junggle — freesound.org/s/27361 — attribution 4.0
💥 cracker by d4xx — freesound.org/s/541365 — cc0
😮 sigh by wjtaylor — freesound.org/s/265249 — cc0
🐦 bird chorus by datajam — freesound.org/s/494729 — cc0
✨ inspiration sound by _bliind — freesound.org/s/524578 — cc0
😲 “no way” by owly-bee — freesound.org/s/431609 — attribution 4.0
👏 applause and cheering by xtrgamr — attribution 4.0
⏰ ticking clock by nightcustard — freesound.org/s/675679 — attribution 4.0
🔔 school bell by old_bell_boy_melbourne — freesound.org/s/493961 — attribution 3.0
😱 gasp by laft2k — freesound.org/s/437667 — cc0
🌀 part of the brave sparks podcast — co-created in therapy, shaped by the voice, needs, and strengths of neurodivergent children. 🌟
🌟 explore more brave sparks
– ep01: nala and dave the dragon’s just-right snuggle 🐉✨
– ep02: the day the energy spilled over 🌊⚠️
