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Poo Goes

Home To

POOLAND
by Tamsin Black
Foreword

Children who suffer encopresis often begin to feel that there is little more to
them than the problem itself. In ‘Poo Goes Home to Pooland’, the problem is
embodied in a troublesome character and placed externally to the child. This
process aims to place some distance between the child and the blame and
shame of soiling. This helps to free them from their fears and may mobilise
previously beleaguered resources within the child and their family.

‘Externalising’ stories have proved valuable in engaging children in


behavioural treatment programmes within a family therapy context. However,
you may find them useful in combination with your chosen therapeutic style.
The most famous incarnation of ‘Poo’ is ‘Sneaky Poo’ (see Heins & Ritchie
or Williams & Wright). However, the complexity of these stories makes them
unsuitable for very young children.

The style and content of ‘Poo Goes Home to Pooland’ was designed to suit
the cognitive development stage of children up to around seven years of age.
Individual illustrations and accompanying text are intended to promote
understanding of toileting matters and to relieve anxiety. They cover topics
such as sharing unhappy feelings and how to recognise when you need a poo.

A colouring book of the story has also been produced to encourage young
children to think about the story at home and within their family; this can be
photocopied without seeking permission. The clinician’s copy is produced in
sturdier form for repeated use.

Talking about ‘Pooland’ might help you to engage a child in getting control
of their poo. Alternatively, ‘Shy Poo’ may inspire you to develop a new
character for ‘Poo’, one to suit the particular personality of the child in your
care.
This is a story
about Poo.
Poo is very shy with people.

Poo just wants to go home.


Poo wants to go home to
POOLAND
In POOLAND, Poo can tell
Poo Jokes and play Poo
games.
Poo can tell his Mummy and
Daddy when he feels sad or
grumpy.
Now, the only way for Poo to
get to POOLAND is down the
loo. Ollie has to help Poo get
down the loo.

Poos are very shy, so


POOLAND is very far away -
much too small for people,
even little ones like you.
This is Ollie.

Ollie likes football


and reading books.
Poo is very, very shy.

Poo’s
hiding
place.

Poo tries to stay hidden inside


Ollies bottom. Poo needs
Ollie’s help to send Poo home.
Poo makes trouble for Ollie.
He doesn’t mean to.

Sometimes
Poo makes
Ollie feel
sad.

Ollie knows that Poo wants to


go home, but he Doesn’t
know when Poo is ready.
Poo tickles Ollie’s bottom to
say, ‘Please send me home to
POOLAND, I’m ready !’

But, sometimes Ollie is too


busy to notice Poo and Poo
nips back inside again.
Sometimes Poo burps (this
can be smelly) to let Ollie
know when he is ready to go
home.

Ollie has to say, ‘Pardon me !’


When Poo feels really brave,
he taps Ollie’s tummy to say,
‘Please send me down the
loo to be with other Poos.’

Ollie gets a funny feeling in his


tummy.
But, when Ollie listens to Poo,
Ollie knows just what to do.

How does Poo tell Ollie when


he wants to go home ?
With a big push or two, Ollie
sends Poo down the loo to
POOLAND.
A flush of the loo.

Goodbye to Poo.

Yahoo !
Poo is really happy in
POOLAND with all the other
Poos.
Ollie is very happy.

Ollie is proud that he helped


Poo to go home. Ollie’s family
are proud of Ollie too.
For Frederick & Sophie
Tamsin Black is in her final year of Doctoral Training in Clinical Psychology
at Newcastle University. ‘Poo Goes Home to Pooland’ was developed under
the clinical supervision and theoretical guidance of John Sands, Clinical Psy-
chologist at the Linhope Unit, Ashington, part of Northumberland Mental
Health NHS Trust.

Many thanks to John Sands for his encouragement and sound advice.

Thanks also to the real ‘Ollie’ (aged 4), whose imagination and sense of
humour finally got the better of his anxieties.

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