Help! my 4 yo has recently developed a very healthy interest in touching himself!

[littlethings]

This is a bit delicate - didn't expect to have to deal with this for another 10 years or so ... but my DS aged 4 has taken to openly rubbing himself - with accompanying gasps and gyrations ... . I don't want to turn it into something he's ashamed of or store up issues for the terrible teens but am trying to persuade him not to do this in public at least. I've told him that it might feel very nice - again - but that other people don't like to see him do it and that he should go to his room or somewhere quiet if he wants to. So now he announces he's going away with his willy all by himself for a play. so sweet ....

Anyone else had to deal with this?

My almost 4 year old likes to hump the floor! We regularly find him laid out, face down, twiddling his fingers through his hair (his comfort thing) grinding away. If you ask him what he's doing - if he answers - he says he's making his willy go big!

Depending on what we're doing, I either leave him to it while I get on with looking after DD or I try to distract him and engage him in doing something else.

Like you, I don't want him to think it's something dirty or shameful but some days it just seems constant!!

best way for him to feel that it isn't dirty or shameful is for you not to act like it might be

think its normal IME, I would say to him its fine for you to touch your body but only in his room or somewhere private! As am guessing it would be a tad embaressing if he started doing it at pre school or something!

My 2 do this a bit, but so far not too embarrassing...however I have a friend whose 3?? yo DS announced loudly in Sainsburys that "I WILL PLAY WITH MY WILLY LATER MUMMY!" She was mortified.

Thanks everyone - glad it's not early onset puberty or something. MNetters rock!