what to do about my 3yearold?

Question

my son is starting to play with his penis he is only 3 what should i say to him or do to let him no thats not a nice thing to do

Answer 1

Most little boys start to discover themselves at about that age. My friends have tried to explain that they can only do that at home and it's not nice to do it in front of other people or when you are out in public.

Answer 2

My three year old boy does the same thing - also runs around the house naked from the waist down while screaming "my penis is hanging down!"

We ask him politely to put clothes on and keep his penis in his pants. After all, DADDY doesn't run around with his pants off and his "penis hanging down" (thank goodness for that!! :) )

Tell him that you would like him to do "those" activities in his room - not where everyone else can see him. That's what I say - he's usually too interested in being around the rest of us than going to play alone with his penis in his room.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I'm 11 and my sixteen month old brother plays with his penis all the time. If I say something my mom says leave him alone it's his penis and he can play with it all he wants as long as it's clean. Not saying its a good thing just it's OK as long as he doesn't touch anyone, but I try not to care because we came from the same place and I love him rather he plays with his penis or not.

Answer 4

This is very normal. Everyone does it. I am a preschool teacher and heard of this behavior countless times. Do not tell him that it is naughty. It will only cause him to feel shamed about his body and give the behavior more attention. You can, when you see it happen, let his know that "This is an inappropriate behavior to show others or do in public. If you need to do this, do it in you room or somewhere private." Good luck!

Answer 5

Well i am sure he have no bad intensions he is just curious my nephew do that when he is in the bath tub and he is going to be 3 soon,So honestly i think its just the age but every time you see hom doing it just tell him to stop.Dont force on it because then it will make him do it even more.

Answer 6

Sometimes you have to ignore it, becuase he will learn that if he does it, it gets your attention.
the best thing to do, is if you see him, distract him, give him something else to do.
He is still a little young to know that it isnt right..
My 4 year old does it, and my bf thinks, its his, let him touch it...but thats not right....When he gets to understand more you can talk about how you only touch that when bathing and going potty.

Answer 7

This is so normal. You do not want to create a poor body image by forbidding this behaviour. What I told my son and daughter was to keep their hands outside their clothing in public, what they do in their room/home is fine.

Answer 8

Its pretty normal.. don't make a big deal about it, but explain that is his bad manners to touch himself there in front of people and if he needs to touch it- to do so in his room or the bathroom. It will stop or at least keep him from doing it in public places.

Answer 9

This curiosity is natural in children his age. If he insists on doing this in public places, you should tell him its not nice to do that. But if he's just "exploring" when you're at home/when he's naked, then it's fine.

Answer 10

1) Try saying "NO, Don't Touch!"

2) Try scaring him out of doing it...... you know, one of them harmless little lies parents tell their kids, such as "Don't do that or *insert name of scary fictional monster here* will come and take you away" (e.g. The "Boogey Man" or "Wee Willy Winkie").
http://www.iusedtobelieve.com/make_believe/monsters/monsters_d26.php