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Parenting

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How do I talk to my 3 year old about balls?

11 replies

Thinkstoomuch · 01/05/2009 20:07

A serious question (well semi-serious). DS1 is well into fiddling with his bits at the moment, in fact we've even had him grappling with them at the dinner table this week . All fine, no big deal, we're used to casually saying 'that's nice dear' when he proudly shouts 'look at my big fat willy!' etc. (we did lightly discourage it at dinnertime btw). He's very bright and curious, asks loads of questions and I try to always be straight and honest when I answer.

But what do you say about testicles? He just seems to have got interested in them and in the bath a few times now he's talked about having bones in there and saying how those bones move about when he prods them. At the moment I say a non-commital 'oh really?' but should I set him straight with a bit more ballbag info? If so how?

OP posts:
Thinkstoomuch · 01/05/2009 20:32

No-one want to talk scrotums tonight then?

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Spoo · 01/05/2009 20:35

I think I would be honest. My ds call them there balls - at least there is no debate about what they are referring to. I probably wouldn't go into detail about what was inside though!!

BarcodeZebra · 01/05/2009 20:35

Just tell him the truth. Check up the info on a reputable website and let him have it.

Were you considering telling him they were magic fairy eggs? It's one way forward....

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Spoo · 01/05/2009 20:35

Their NOT there!

Thinkstoomuch · 01/05/2009 21:02

As I said, I do give him straight answers to all his questions. On this one I'm just wondering how far to go with an explanation. He's so curious about things he is likely to ask what they're for.

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PinkTulips · 01/05/2009 21:13

well dd 4 asked this week 'why do boys have penises but not girls?'

[sighs]

i really wish she hadn't done it while i was making dinner as i was simply not prepared for that discussion while peeling potatoes!

i'm a firm believer in telling them the truth but in child form... ie my answer to the above was 'because when boys get bigger they use them to make babies, mommies have eggs in their tummies and daddies give mommy special seeds with their penis and a baby grows in mummies tummy' (she's familiar with the mommy side of things as i've just had ds2 and sh'e asked loads of questions)

i have no doubt my kids will as a result be those kids in the school playground horrifying all the other sweet innocent naive children as dd especially relishes in the dramatic and telling stories but ho hum.....

i'd tell him he has to be gentle with his balls as when he gets big special seeds to grow babies will grow in there but leave it at that i think.

ds1 has taken to rather alarmingly hauling at his penis when ever he's pantless and announcing in a loud voice in public 'mommy, my penis is itchy, put cream on it'..... toddlers are there to exhaust us both mentally and physically and this is all part of it i think

Thinkstoomuch · 01/05/2009 21:24

Yes PT they do pull them so roughly don't they? My 1 year old seems determined to yank his off. OK, I guess I'll try an explanation but I'll have to really watch how I phrase it so he doesn't end up thinking he's got tiny babies in his balls or something! We've already had a little facts of life chat as he's obsessed with babies and wanted to know how they get in mummies' tummies, so I'll weave it together with that. I'd much rather he knows this stuff than believe all the nonsense versions that go round the playground. I just didn't think I'd have to be doing this at 3yo!

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PinkTulips · 01/05/2009 21:41

snap ... i thought i had a few more years to get my story straight!

whomovedmychocolate · 01/05/2009 21:45

DD (2.6) grabbed hold of DS (9 months) by the willy tonight in the bath and said 'look, look, a tree!'

Once I'd stopped laughing (and stopped her pulling him along by his willy) I explained it was his willy and she nodded very sagely and replied 'yes, and when he's bigger he'll have a foof like mine' (I did not teach her that word - she picked it up at nursery!)

So I had to explain all that to a 2 year old. I feel your pain!

Could you not describe them as 'seedbags' (like saddlebags except not so comfy to sit on!) - Balls I mean!?

JudyA · 01/05/2009 21:53

DS2 once asked me 'When I grow up I'll make lots of baby seeds, won't I?'

'Yes,' I said....

His hand disappeared down his PJs, he had a good rummage, and said 'I've only got two baby seeds so far'

whomovedmychocolate · 01/05/2009 22:02

Maybe that's what the phrase low hanging fruit really refers too?

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