Masturbation at a young age

[maddiebruv]

Last week, I walked into my 10 year old son Moses' bedroom, delivering his washing. But to my astonishment, he was sitting next to his laptop, masturbating! I was in complete shock and as I am a single mother I have no experience in this and I do not know how to handle the situation. Please help me!

Thought it was pretty normal for them to 'play' with themselves aged 10 ? However, if he was looking at something on his laptop that would not only be illegal for him to view but also an inappropriate stimulation at this young age, then I'd be very concerned. Can you look at the web browsing history on it?

(Also, if it's his real name, i wouldn't use it on MN)

What did you do or say? or did you pretend not to have noticed? Think it's pretty normal at this age- but as MADAME said- I would definitley chekc to see what he was watching to create such 'excitement'

Remove his laptop from his room and only allow him internet access whilst supervised. Oh, and it's perfectly normal behaviour.

RISWI - I did think the same.

normal, and don't name him fgs!

I'd be less concerned about masturbation, and more concerned about a 10 year old presumably with porn being piped into his bedroom via his own laptop.

Masturbation is healthy. Watching on-line porn at 10 is not. This might be time to review internet usage, i.e. laptop stays in the kitchen, or some-such idea.

Personally, I would set up password protected admin rights on his laptop and set the parameters that you are happy to have him surfing. First thing would be to make sure google safe results is always on. I think this is a pretty common issue for parents on web connected kids, so intrigued to see what other have to say.

Agree with midori. I'd check his Internet history, install filters and lay down some ground rules about his Internet use at home using the school rules as a basis.

Take the computer out of his bedroom. Put it in a family room where you can monitor his useage.

Masturbation is normal.

Normal. Self-stimulation is normal from and before birth.
www.oddee.com/item_97595.aspx

I'd be astonished if it had taken him till the age of 10 to start masturbating. But, like the others, I would not allow a computer in the bedroom and any computer that a child uses should certainly have all the parental controls you can lay your hands on. If you're not confident setting this up yourself, take it back to the shop where you bought it and get them to do it for you.

Is that his real name?

As the others say, check the internet history, make the laptop safe. Also though it's time to start knocking before you enter!

I would get this deleted - you've named your son, he has an unusual name, you could easily be identified.

Gwyneth is that you?

I agree, you should ask Mumsnet to delete this thread. You should never name your child on an internet forum like that - otherwise what's the point of anonymity!

TheRealDeal is at it again-why on earth are your finding all these old threads-this was January and was ignored at the time-it was probably a troll anyway.

@ Ferret

Gosh, I didn't even look at the date. I didn't know TheRealDeal did stuff like that - my fault as first responder!

Last Thursday TheRealDeal came on and revived over a dozen very old threads-most being much older than this one and then disappeared. Very odd. It has made me start looking at dates.

Oh darling! It's very normal for a child to masturbate, but if he was watching something that is quite disturbing, that would be of some concern to me. Have you tried talking to him about sexual interests and other related topics?

Zombie thread.

What were you searching Irene...?

Double zombie....