Is 7 very young to have started masturbating?

[nikki1978]

DH told me earlier that he had caught DS (7) masturbating in front of the TV. I presumed he meant playing with his willy so didn't question further but about 10 mins ago I heard panting from DS bedroom. I looked through the gap in the door and he was probably masturbating (red face and all ).

Is this unusual? Should I be worried?

Wandered into this part of the forum as wanted to see if anyone else has shared opinion on today's "news" but this thread caught my attention so much so that my body went cold and rigid with fear.

After reading things here I don't think I'm able to be a percent after all. Never thought that children, babies really, do things like that so young. I grew up surrounded by boys!!!
Scared is an understatement.

You dont like him doing it at breakfast table and you dont want him to do it in private? ! What is wrong with you? Do you want him to be sexually repressed? Do you want him to feel ashamed and disgusting throughout his life.

Newsflash. You probably mastubated yourself at that age, you just cant remember it now.

Let the boy be a boy, in private!

*parent (darn you, autocorrect. I am still in shock anyway).
BTW I discovered the "nice" feeling aged 12 but sex didn't come into equation, any interest in it started at around 15. Maybe I'm just old.

I very much hope you didn't tell him the same way you told us. That's shocking!

After being so criticised yesterday, I had a chat with DS last night about this and was really shocked by his apparent knowledge of sex!

He says that he does it and thinks of what can only be described as sex with girls - "I just love girls".

We had a good chat about having private thoughts and doing things in private, and nobody else touching your body, but I'm really shocked about the sex thoughts.

Is it possible for him to have worked it out by himself? He says that he just thought it in his head, and I am inclined to believe him - it's just not an idea that I'd have expected a 6 year old to come up with (ie my willy goes it her bottom).

I'm going to talk to school on Monday to see of they've overheard any conversations.

Any advice would be great!!

Re: his knowledge, our school teaches the basics of sex ed in yr2, but they did prep us as parents as to what/when to expect it. So speaking to school would be a def good idea.

He's year 1 so no sex ed.

He's still using his own words for things and thinks it is the back passage "bottom" and so his story that he thought it up himself could be true.

Scared is an understatement

Scared of what? Why are people scared of natural development stages?
It's not smelly or dirty or wrong. It is something that most people do because it feels nice. However, it's not something that other people want to see so it should always be done in private and you should wash your hands afterwards.

I am certainly a percentage of children do this from a young age. I did and so did some others on the thread. It is perfectly normal. What is not normal is parents thinking children cannot be sexual. We hate as a nation the idea children have sexual feelings and yet many do. That does not mean I suggest they get boyfriends etc but masturbating is just part of life and for some one of the most enjoyable parts of their lives. I think I have been incredibly lucky to learn how to do it (entirely of my own initiative) from being a very little girl. It has hugely enhanced my life.

I think people don't need to mention it to the child at all just as the parent would not like the child to point out they can hear their parents making love. It is definitely not a sign of child abuse going on for most of us.

My niece was a prolific 'wiggler' ie she used to lay on the floor and rock and rub!

My sister had a quiet word with her about doing it in private when DN was caught doing it on a display bed in B&Q !

I agree probably totally normal part of development. It's the "knowledge" may need checking out, just to put op's mind at rest if nothing else.

Sorry am confusing Op with sezam!

Wow this thread went weird! Thanks to those who posted something sensible. I guess I was just surprised that he was bringing himself to orgasm - albeit a dry one. I assumed little boys played as it felt nice but the full on thing freaked me out a bit.

I will leave him to his business from now on!

A willy is not dirty to whoever said that FFS.

Mostwicked think you got the wrong perso , please care to read the context if what I said. Really don't appreciate patronising attacks, thank you very much.

My nearly 5 yr old does this. I tell him its fine, but he needs to do it in private, in his bedroom or wherever. Not on the sofa in front of everyone. So he trots off to his bedroom, has a fiddle and comes back a few mins later

I clearly remember holding that area and holding my breath or squeezing my muscles to get a nice feeling. I was 4 at most. My mum used to tell me it was dirty.

I have great difficulty reaching orgasm now and quite a lot of issues relating to sex. Although I don't blame my mum, I'm fairly sure my issues stem from this at least partly, if not fully.

Please don't tell your children it's a dirty thing to do.

I've just stumbled across this and wanted to share:

Sexual Development Traffic Light System