Am I right? Is this normal?

[1legmummy]

Just had a call from a friend, she looked after my 8 year old Son today, she has a 10 year old Son.

Apparently, her Son has told her that he and my Son had been experimenting with each other. They were covering their privates with a cup and taking it in turns to suck the cup!!

Obviously, I need to speak to my Son about this and explain acceptable behaviour, but have told my friend not to worry too much, they are being normal kids experimenting with things.

Should I be worried?

How would you go about approaching it with him?

Just about to go to bed but didn't want to leave you hanging.

I'm sorry I can't help much as ds is only 5 but he and other friends (girls) went through a short phase of getting naked in private. It soon stopped.

Think back to when you were that age - I remember calling a friend's brother Devil Willy as he used to chase us with it (he used to turn it inside out or so we thought!!)

It is all natural curiousity however uncomfortable it makes us grown ups.

Yes I think it does need discussing - I'm hoping when we get to that sort of age I'll find a nice book to answer any awkward questions.

Good luck :-)

Kids do this. It's only a problem if one kid is coercing others, or doing it constantly. Kids are curious about their own bodies and other people's bodies, and if they pick up on some level that certain things are a bit 'naughty' and illicit then they will quite often want to try them out (it's the same as learning swear words and telling endless, endless fart jokes). It's probably best to have a casual sort of chat with your DS along the lines of willies and bottoms and fannies being private, but don't let him think that what he and his mate were doing was anything really awful.

This sort of thing is funny when it's not your own child! I wouldn't worry - have a chat with him but whatever you do don't get cross.

My only concern would be that one or other child had seen some unsuitable images, which is what may have given them the idea. The behaviour in itself is normal, especially for the 8 year old. By 10 they have usually learned to be embarrassed by such things.

Ask your son what gave them the idea, but be careful - he will probably already be mortified that your friend saw him.

Thanks girls. The only thing that worries me is that my friends Son told her. She went mad and told her Husband, he is a Catholic and so said he is not allowed to see my Son again, as if he is the one to blame.

I am sure he has not seen anything here, but I am seperated from his father so cannot be sure what he has seen at his house

Ah they will calm down over time, it's not worth having a row over 'who's fault it is' even though you're going to be pissed that they've instantly blamed you. I can remember doing all sorts of dodgy things when I was younger, none of which I'm going to tell you about, but it sounds exactly the same ilk as what you've just mentioned.