Masturbation in 7 year old boy?

Question

I have a question my husband and i have caught our 6 year old, he is 7 now masturbating. We caught him a couple of times when he was three and just told him that it was something he did in private not in front of people. Well when he was six the dentist recommended electric toothbrushes and we sometimes catch him putting it on his p***s through his clothes and when he is bathing with his 3 year old brother in the bath we will turn on the water and sit under it so the water flows on it. We have told him this was not appropriate and once again a private activity. We now make him brush and bath with the bath open with supervision but we arent tyrants I just poke my head in randomly to check on them. I was talking to a neighbor and she said she asked a friend who was a social worker with children for 20 years and she thinks this isnt normal. I really thought it wasnt that big of a deal and we should just redirect the manner in which he is doing it, bath and toothbrush.

Answer 1

Masturbation isn't that big of a deal in a 6yr old.  Nor a 7 yr old.

However the toothbrush thing, and the running water thing would be learned behaviors, and the social worker is right in that it is not normal.

The problem is not that he is doing it, but rather that someone is teaching him HOW to do it.  This would be something you need to have a licensed counselor talk to your child about.  At 6, your kid isn't picking this stuff up from the internet, it could be something as innocent as another child with older siblings, or it could be someone is molesting him.   However it works out, he does need help and its probably something that could take a while.

Answer 2

Actually, this isn't masturbating. Masturbating is when you are bringing yourself to a point of orgasim. His body is not developed enough to accomplish that.

What he is, is very curious about his body! This is PERFECTLY normal! If you find something that feels good, the natural reaction would be to continue.  But his body is not developed to the point of being able to actually m********e.

A Social Worker and a parent are SOOOO two opposite ends of the spectrum!! A social worker is NOT with that child every day and is usually dealing with emotionally traumatized youth who do not act out normally anyways. (We work with these youth!)

A mother is with that child through EVERYTHING! Our son and all boys that I have ever found (was a nanny before a mommy) were ALL curious about thier bodies! This is perfectly normal. I don't think you would need to stress, and when you see this, just change the focus of your son to something else.

Answer 3

whats so wrong with him touch his own p***s? all kids do it

Answer 4

My 4 year old girl is touching herself often. She doesn't do it at her day care but the minute she gets home off come the clothes and we have to keep putting them back on. I have told her doctor and social workers and they keep telling us don't worry it is perfectly normal.

It is embarrassing to have her have so much exposed. We don't want to see all that, and don't want her male cousins, who visit to see her naked. She isn't actively masturbating but she keeps touching it, and exploring. My husband has caught her trying to put objects where they don't belong. We don't know how she knows to do this we have no p**n or odd stuff going on here, and don't want her to hurt herself.

I have a grandson who when he was 4 was doing the same thing and he was really going at it, and we had to direct him to go to the bathroom. He was behind the couch and other places. I got him to take it into the bathroom & told him not to do it in front of us or others.

According to her doctor most all kids go through this phase.

Answer 5

It is normal he is learning about his body. He is a child so he does not know what mastubation  is, it feels good to him so he does it. My friend had the same thing happen to her she just sat down and explained to her son that his private area is his private area and that it is inappropriate for him to do that infront of anyone.I would also explain to him about Adam and Eve and how when they ate the apple that they could see clearly so they covered up and that is what God wants you to do cover up and keep your peepee to yourself. What shocks me is that a woman of 20 years said that it is abnormal. Strange. If you were a child and something felt good to you and you didnt understand it you keep playing with it too. All he needs is an explanation. I  would not tell him that it is abnormal the only thing that should shame him is if he does that infront of other people. I would also tell him that there will be plenty of time for that later. Also I would let him take a bath alone, younger children learn from the older ones. So dont worry everthing is right on track.

Answer 6

Your friends social worker friend is wrong. It is normal - all kids don't do it. But you are right about it being a private thing.

   It really isn't a big deal.

Answer 7

I have a three year old nephew that would look down his pants every so often to make sure it was still there. It's a boy thing.

Answer 8

hes fine. tell him to do it only in private. and if he does it in front of people dont punish him because then h**l think its wrong and its not.

Answer 9

its his property isnt it?

Answer 10

It isn't normal. Have him see the school counselor or a psychologist or behavior analysist about this. He probably learned this from an older kid at school.

Answer 11

im sure he doesnt realize it. this is just one of those things he will probably grow out of with time...

Answer 12

Its actually totally normal.  Some kids find pleasure in touching themselves at a young age.