Teach your Toddler to keep their Privates-Private

Talking about reproductive health and private parts as an adult is uncomfortable, talking about it with your teenager- stressful. With a toddler? Almost downright impossible. But there is hope.

In a round-up by Baby Centre’s developmental psychologist Susanne Ayers Denham, here’s how to answer your toddler’s questions about genitals in an age-appropriate way.

1. Toddler’s questions about genitals

As parents, we can get anxious when children ask about anything that sounds remotely related to sex. But children’s curiosity about genitals is no different than their questions about eyes, ears, feet, noses, and other less private parts. And genitals are pretty interesting, as body parts go. Here’s what to say when your toddler asks about genitals?

2. Is it okay for our toddler to see us naked?

The question is, are you comfortable with your toddler seeing you naked? Some parents are very open with nudity. Others feel it’s really only okay for their toddler to see the body of the parent of the same sex. Still others think any nudity is problematic. Pick a side.

3. Masturbation in Toddlers 

Young children masturbate for the same reason that older children (and adults) do: It feels good! Body exploration is part of growing up. How you handle it matters.

4. Toddler touching genitals in front of others

Children are curious about everything, including their bodies. They just needs a simple lesson in privacy.

Kids And Bodies (0-5 years): How to talk to your 0-5 year old about their bodies

The beautiful thing about parenting is that you are the most influential person in your childs life.  They admire you, they want your validation, guidance and of course love and attention.  They get their values from you, they will parent like you and a lot of what they do will be modeled by you, unless they take a clear choice to go in the opposite direction.

With this in mind it is imperative that you look at your own background and what it taught  you about this particular subject.  What kind of things were said about your body as you were growing up?  Was there any conversation about sex and sexuality in your childhood home?  Yes this course is about children who are less than 5, but they are taking in a lot of information at this point.

Enroll in this course to learn how to teach your kids about boundaries and privacy.