In a short time, several children's books about poop have come out on the Swedish book market.
The books have been criticized for "loose simplified view of children's literature".
But child psychologist Bella Berg, who, among other things, works with children with disabilities and talks a lot with parents about children's toilet visits, thinks that it is important to de-dramatize the subject - and you do that by talking about it.
- Books about kisses and poop fulfill the function of relieving shame and being able to manage to teach children to go to the toilet, she says.
Help for adults
She says that many adults find it embarrassing to talk about toilet visits with children and that a humorous children's book can help lift the lid on conversations.
- Adults can approach the shameful without having to figure out exactly what to say.
Shame can lead to health risks
Bella Berg believes that shame has previously fulfilled a function.
At a time when the hygienic standard in Sweden was lower - outdoor toilets in courtyards and shared wet rooms in basements - fecal bacteria posed a greater danger.
But now that all Swedish homes and buildings have access to toilets and sinks, the shame surrounding poop and the digestive system can instead pose a health risk to children.
- Many times bad mood is due to the stomach. If you can talk to your mom and dad about poop, about the consistency of poop and how often you poop, there is a chance that they can affect and change. It has a lot to do with stress in life, she says.