How to deal with 3 year old 'touching herself' in public

[lle1971]

I guess it's natural and part of exploratory development but DD1 lies on her front and puts hands down her pants and 'plays' with herself. She says it feels nice. Up to now I have ignored it but today she did it in the doctors surgery, on the floor in a busy waiting room.
What would be the best way to encourage her to keep this activity to times when she's on her own and not in a public place!
Like most 3 year olds if you ask her not to do something she does it twice as much and my attempts to distract her were met with a sly grin and ignoring me.

If you can't beat them, join them, [shugs!!!!]

I am beginning to think this behaviour is normal in children. My DS2 got dragged away from a friends house today by me the horrible mother, why? because I found him in the bathroom with his trousers and pants off lying on top of his friend, male at that. I was mortified as a group of us were having a nice afternoon get together with tea and cake. I did not quite know what to do, I probably should have just ignored this behaviour but it is embarrasing. I think from now on we should ignore this kind of behaviour.

agree, ignore, but start to teach that people do that in private, do it in your room.
i was worrying because my dd still does this and she is 4, starting school next week, but a teacher friend of mine said 'don't worry, they will all be fiddling with themselves, especially during storytime'!

My DD is in love with her bits too. We have just explained to her that they are private and for her to play with at home, not in front of others. She does need the odd reminder, but she generally gets the point. Unfortunately, the downside of it is that she will occassionally tell random people that her bits are hers, and they're private and only she is allowed to play with them!

my ds1 who is small age 3 plays with his bits whenever he is naked. i just repeat that he is not to lay with his willie infront of people but can in his room.

also i have started saying that no-one else is allowed to lay with his willie which i find awful that i have to say that to him at such a young age. maybe i am wrong with that

play

It is normal behaviour and there is nothing actually sexual in it. They are finding out about themselves (and often each other!!) and it's nice, so don't worry about it. However, you are right in not wanting them to do it anywhere and everywhere, but it doesn't really need to be a big issue. The first time I found dd doing it I just said calmly 'need to do that in private darling', with a smile, and put a blanket over her - we were at home on the sofa. I didn't ever find her doing it anywhere but at home, but I did start telling her to keep it private as soon as she started, and mainly because I knew mil would make an enormous and hugely public deal out of it and dd could end up thoroughly freaked! Also mil was likely to tell absolutely everyone she saw for the next 5 years, so it was really important that dd was discreet.

i would say stearnly - i said STOP so STOP . you do as i say.

yes that is all it ever takes custardo (NOT)!

i can only go off my personal experience - and that was it.

ah well you have a precious gift then
the gift of authority