These children may have bowel movements that are hard, dry, and painful. Their time between bowel movements may be 4 days or more. Check for good exercise habits, since physical activity nudges the bowels into action. Also, setting a regular meal schedule can help some children develop regular bowel habits, since eating is another natural stimulant for bowel activity. If necessary, schedule breakfast a little earlier to give your child a chance for a relaxed visit to the bathroom before school.
Some children become constipated because they ignore the natural urge to empty their bowels.
They may not want to use a restroom away from home, or they may feel embarrassed to ask a teacher to be excused from class. When this happens, simple reassurance from you and your child's teacher may be the only treatment necessary. Most childhood constipation problems can be helped by sensible changes in lifestyle or diet. Laxatives are not usually needed. In fact, using laxatives unnecessarily can actually cause constipation.