How much of behavior is normal? What I saw I don't think was normal. Does a child of that age play with self to the point of, what I consider, jerking off???
I was shocked in what I saw.
Why were you shocked? He's a little boy who has an interesting body part that probably feels good to touch. How would he know it's not something you wanted him to do at this age? Above everything else, don't make him feel shamed for exploring his body. He'll carry that with him for the rest of his life.
Let him know that that is something he needs to do in private. The last thing you want to do is make a child feel guilty for touching himself. He may just be curious and he is allowed to be curious and them maybe it is just because it feels good and that should be ok too.
Perfectly normal, very common. They all do it. Don't be shocked. Teach him that it's natural, but it's private. There's a difference. Private means no one sees it, no one else does it to him. Don't shame him into not doing it. I realize you never were aware of it, but it's not deviant or abnormal in any way.
boys play with their penises.
if you had one you'd do it too.
it's perfectly normal.
khairete
S.
The other posters are right. It's normal. It feels good, B.. If his ARM felt that good to touch, he'd be pulling on his arm instead.
You have to get past it, mom. But Dawi is right - he has to go in his room to touch himself. Tell him that we don't touch our private parts in front of anyone.
Dawn
Yes they do. It's perfectly normal. Just make sure he understands that it's perfectly okay for him to play with his dangly bits, but it needs to be done in the privacy of his bedroom.
Yes. They discovered a new toy and it's one that feels really really really good.
Teach them they can do that in their room if they need to "scratch" it. That you don't want to see them do that, it's private for the bathroom or the bedroom.
This will teach them it's not "bad" but that it's private. This way they won't be doing it at school or church or at grandma's house...lol.
In the many years I've worked with kids, this almost absurdly common for both boys and girls.
Everyone else has given excellent advice; do give your son some good guidelines (in his room, alone). One child I was a nanny for used to start in at this around storytime before nap, and I just reminded them "Oh, that's a private thing to do, so you can wait until we finish the story or I can leave now" in a matter-of-fact sort of way.
Yes, both boys and girls that age may masturbate and that is perfectly normal. Just ask the child to do it in privacy.
Good luck
Well ok I had a son and I never saw him do this. So that is why I am surprised that this is normal for a 5 yr. old.
