Playing Doctors - help!?

Question

I've caught my son and daughter playing doctors, they are close in age (15 months apart) my son has just turned 8 and my daughter will be 7 soon. We've always been open about questions they've had. They know where babies come out. They know that a man and woman lay together when they get married to have a baby. They don't know how this actually happens. ie actual intercourse. They were "examining" each others bottoms and privates. I didn't freak out (which really suprises me, becasue I usually lose it easily for other things like when the squabble etc). I sent my son back to his room and asked my daughter what they did and then did the same to my son. Their stories were the same. They told me they have played before.I told them that it was not appropriate and that their privates should be kept private. I've told them that if they want to learn about bodies I would get them a book.Has anybody else had the same situation.Are there any age appropriate books?

Answer 1

theres a darn good chance you did all the right things..... and I doubt that their play is anything more than normal curiosity....

siblings do play doctors ...... it is and has always been normal behaviour....

If, as others have suggested this is a sign of sexual inappropriateness by others to the children the children would have been unlikely to be open to you about what had taken place between them... and would be unlikely to be comfortable to talk about it.....

it sounds like you are a great parent with a good relationship with your children..... Keep up the good work...

Answer 2

I am having the same problem! We are a blended family and the 2 kids are cousins (6yr old girl and 4yr old boy) The little girl came out of a horrably abusive sittuation. I am beginning to wonder if she has been sexually abused because she keeps trying to seduce the little boy. This issue can be very confusing;You don't want to give them a complex and it's hard to figure out where to draw lines. In MY sitch, I have had to set limits with consequnces at this stage because it keeps happening and the little boy could wind up with a life long head trip! I feel that I must step in protectively. Our children's innocence is increibly threatened as it is! My next step is to seek counseling for the little girl. She's such a little sunshine, but I know that she's carrying alot of pain around. On the other hand, I caught my now much older boys( who are incredibly well adjusted and great) doing the same stuff when they were about the same age, chalked it up to natural curiosity and offered the " your private parts are yours and his are his and this stuff is for married grown ups and let's not do this anymore! The main thing I try to avoid is SHAMING! I was a shamed kid, and I know what kind of damage it can do! parenting is a real ride, huh?! May God Bless and Keep you! Love , Mama Cindy

Answer 3

There are many age appropriate books on the human body. And yes I think it is normal that they would be curious about each others bodies. They are old enough to know that their bodies are different I would sit them both down with the book together and explain anything they might want to know also explain again that touching other peoples bodies is wrong

Answer 4

Please don't worry there is no problem at all here. Children as young as 5 can start exploring other children's bodies.
They do this to role play, maybe your children have seen something on television or in a magazine and then they simply act it out. On top of that they are of different sexes so they are very curious as to what others have body wise.
You should keep a quiet eye out if they are spending a lot of time around an adult other than you or your husband as they might have learnt this 'game' through them, but this is highly unlikely.

Answer 5

You did pretty good in your response. You were right in telling them that their private areas should be kept private. However, just telling them is not going to stop their playing doctor. I suggest that if you catch them doing that again, you give each of them the same calm talk as before - and then an extremely hard bare-bottom spanking in front of each other. Do not do it in anger but just to let them know this is the punishment.

Answer 6

im glad you didnt freak out, that will only make them more curious or scare them. you did the right thing in talking to them and getting them books might help even though i think they are a little young to know all about sex. just keep up with what you are doing and keep an eye on them as to make sure it doesnt go any further. but remember they are young and will be curious and it doesnt always mean they do anything more than what they do.

Answer 7

They're kids. Almost all kids do this at one point or another. It's nothing to be too panicked about, but I think you should consider giving them the birds and the bees speech sometime soon. They're getting to the age where kids at school are going to start talking about it, and it would be better if you gave them the correct information to start with, rather than them recieving false information from kids at school. It is NEVER too early to introduce them to sex education, particularly if they're beginning to experiment like this.

I realize it can be a touchy subject, but it's better than them growing up sexually awkward or confused. They're only going to get more curious if you keep things from them.

Answer 8

you handelled that very well. I have b/g twins and they are7 so I have been expecting it as from everything i have heard it is completly normal. You did it all right and not scared them for life. I hope i do as well if in that situation. The book "Where did i come from " is still around and is a great book. Give that a go

Answer 9

this is normal for kids ages 2-8 what ever you do stay calm and don't punish for natural curiosity just tell them that, that is their private spots that only them,mommy,daddy, and the doctor can see and touch and that its okay to touch themselves but in private but a little exploration wont hurt their just kids nothing sexual only normal child curiosity

Answer 10

And the mommy's appropriate! LOL Edit: I even have yet another ending for that tale... The little boy shows his component and the little female asks "what's that?" and the little boy solutions "it quite is my faucet". Then the little female says "you're actually not very cutting-part, mine have been embedded for a protracted time!".