DD 'pleasuring' herself .... just ignore it??

[sjcmum]

DD, just turned 4, has taken to having what she calls a 'funny rest'. She puts both hands between her crossed legs, and her whole body goes really rigid as she wiggles about a little bit. It's obviously giving her pleasure - I try to ignore it - but sometimes I stop her, because it is really annoying me - you can't get her to talk, answer questions etc. She tends to do it when she is tired, in front of the telly, in bed etc - but it seems to be becoming an increasingly regular thing.

Will she just grow out of it? Do I just ignore it? Don't want to give her some kind of complex in later life by making a fuss!!

Any suggestions???

VN, yes, tone is all.

I tell my children that if they wander around without pants on, a bird will fly through the window and think their willies are caterpillars and peck them off to feed to it's chicks.

Neither have a phobia of birds (although actually if they excape into the garden naked, they do buckle ofver and clutch themselves...)

My dd (5) loves a good rummage around down there! Either that or she is playing with her nipples. We have pointed out that its best kepy private, but otherwise, its her body and she is just doing something that feels nice. Why the big worry?? Children don't have sexualised ideas of their bodys, it just feels nice.

voldemortsnipple, I am horrifed to hear you describe children innocently exploring their bodies as "dirty". Horrified.

Thank you everyone! Good to know that it is normal... I kind of knew it was, but equally still good to hear. I told her this evening that maybe just a good thing to do in her bed and she seemed to accept that - so we'll see how it goes.... I think the main thing as lots of you have said is to just ignore it and not make a big fuss....