Need Help! What do I tell my four-year-old about the Humping Baboons he saw at the zoo?

Question

I covered his eyes and told them they were fighting. I thought that the issue had been resolved, but he keeps asking about them. What should I do?! Have I created "issues" that he'll need to work out in 20 years?

Answer 1

Hey that really happened except it was with Zebras! Have you ever seen a Zebras thing? My son thought it was a black fire hose! He wanted to know why the Zebra was jumping on the other Zebras back to hit her with it!

I'll never go to the Zoo around mating season again!!

Answer 2

How people react usually puts a imprint on children. If you are excited so are they and if you are sad then they are too. For example: alot of kids will bring a fear of something into their adulthood because of the way someone reacted when it happened. 4 year old boys are not thinking about sexuality at this point. If anything by covering his eyes you are sending a signal that something is wrong. Nothing is wrong. They might just think the Baboons are riding piggy back. They might just be happy because he sees two baboons together. You can just talk about the positive things about the zoo. Yes those baboons were soo pretty and what else did you like about the zoo? I hope this is hopeful.

Answer 3

LOL, tell him they were trying to play leap frog but missed! The fighting thing could create some incompatible feelings about sex, but hopefully he won't remember that. He's 4 years old, its acceptable to say hey drop it already or I thought the baboons were weird, but I thought the hippo (or whatever) was really cool, in other words distract him, get him stuck on something else he saw at the zoo. Maybe he keeps asking because he knows that for some reason that he doesn't quite get you are distressed about it (you did cover his eyes) and thats the part he really can't figure out. 4 is wayyyyyy too young for birds and bees, but if the whole situation is minimized he'll forget quickly. Good luck, and don't worry too much!

Answer 4

Well, that's sticky, I mean hard to figure, How mature is your 4year old, if you think he'd understand the birds and the bees then tell him about them, but if not, you might just say they were wrestling. fighting or what not. You don't have to go into detail, just enough to give an idea of what you want to explain. Don't worry about issues in 20 years, likely he'll forget about it in a week.

You'd be best off worrying about how you'll afford his college tuition in another 15 years...

Answer 5

NEVER lie to your children. Sex is natural. Seeing animals is a good way to start a simple explanation of the facts of life. I told my 4-year-old that the daddy was planting a baby in the mommy. When you lie, the kid knows. That's why he keeps asking. He knows you were upset and wonders why.

Answer 6

NO you didn't cause issues

i always say i will explain when you get older

BUT next time don't cover his eyes if you don't want a big deal made

but i understand y you did sometimes it just a reaction

Answer 7

Just tell him about the birds and the bees. I have personally felt that the way my parents did it was best. When I asked, they told me the truth, but told me more as I got older.

Answer 8

you need to tell him that is how mommy and daddy baboons make baby baboons.if you are truthful but cute about it ,it will make telling him where real babies come from easier when he gets older.never tell him they are fighting.what will happen if he catches you and your husband having sex one night.he will think you are fighting and that is not right.

Answer 9

Say they were playing piggy back rides.

4 is too young to learn about the birds and the bees.

Answer 10

Haha. I highly doubt you have mentally scarred your child. Children are merely curious, and you probrably reacted to it in a way that would make him concerned. Pretty soon he will forget all about it. Don't worry.