what exactly hsould i tel my 6 yr old son about masterbating?? he does it a lot?

Answer 1

Michelle, I am sorry i am reporting you. You have 2 kids, and you still go to school? This is wierd.

Answer 2

Toddlers and preschoolers do not really understand the social implications of public masturbation, because, as noted earlier, they don’t associate it with private behaviors that occur between adults. To them, it may be no different than playing with their ears, twirling their hair or picking their nose (and you know they’re not shy about doing that in public!). You should not bring lots of attention to the matter. Children enjoy attention of any sort, whether it is negative or positive, and by making a big deal of it, you will only reinforce the behavior and increase its frequency.

Children should never be punished or shamed for masturbating, as this can have major effects on their self-esteem and comfort with sexual activity as adults. There are lots of positive ways for parents to keep their kids from masturbating in public places:
Set limits: explain to your child that it is a private activity, much like toileting, and should be limited to the bedroom or bathroom.
Distraction: try to get your child interested in another activity with their hands.
Send toddlers to their room to masturbate if they can’t be distracted from it.
Ignore masturbation at bedtime or naptime and encourage your child’s daycare to do the same.
Increase the amount of hugging, cuddling and parental affection you show to your child.
Give your child a security object (teddy bear, doll, blanket) to take in public, since they may be using masturbation to comfort themselves in an unfamiliar situation.
For children with developmental delay or other mental impairments who may not be as receptive to reasoning, positive reinforcement techniques may be helpful (for example, reward them for not playing with their genitals with special treats).
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/masturb.htm

Young children - sexual fantasies don’t usually accompany masturbation at this age. Young children begin to pick up on their parents’ attitudes towards masturbation. If parents react in a mortified way, the child can feel ashamed of their sexual feelings and behaviours.

Masturbation in young children
Boys generally start masturbating at an earlier age than girls, since the clitoris and vagina are harder to find than the penis. Studies show that the way in which parents react to their child’s masturbation impacts on the child’s sexual attitudes and behaviours in adult life. Suggestions for parents include:
Young children masturbate for various reasons, including curiosity, exploration and sensory pleasure.
Reassure yourself that masturbation in young children is normal. It is not a sign of sexual deviancy.
Focus on the setting, rather than the activity itself. For example, if your child is masturbating in public, tell them that what they’re doing is fine if they do it in private, much like toileting and picking one’s nose are private activities.
Young children may turn to masturbation in times of stress. If your child is masturbating to the point where playtime and other activities are curtailed, you need to find out what is making them anxious and upset.
If you are concerned about your child’s masturbatory practices, consult with your doctor or paediatrician.
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/BHCV2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Masturbation?Open

How can you help your child?
Have realistic goals.

It is impossible to eliminate masturbation. Accept the fact that your child has learned about it and enjoys it. The only thing you can control is where it is done. A reasonable goal is to permit it in the bedroom and bathroom only. You might say to your child, "It's okay to do that in your bedroom when you're tired." If you completely ignore the masturbation, no matter where it's done, your child will think it can be done freely in any setting.
Ignore masturbation at naptime and bedtime.

Leave your child alone at these times and do not keep checking on him. Do not forbid your child from lying on the abdomen and do not ask if his hands are between the legs.
Distract or discipline your child for masturbation at other times.

First try to distract your child with a toy or activity. If this fails, explain to your child: "I know that feels good, and it's okay to do it in your room or the bathroom, but do not do it in the rest of the house or when other people are around." By the time children are 4 or 5 years old, they become sensitive to other people's feelings and understand that they should masturbate only when they are alone. Younger children may have to be sent to their rooms to masturbate.
Discuss this approach with your child's day care or preschool staff.

Ask your child's caregiver or teacher to respond to your child's masturbation by first trying to distract the child. If this doesn't work, they should catch the child's attention with comments such as, "We need to have you join us now." Masturbation should be tolerated at school only at naptime.
Increase physical contact with your child.

Some children will masturbate less if they receive extra hugging and cuddling throughout the day. Try to be sure that your child receives at least 1 hour every day of special time together and physical affection from you.
Common mistakes.

The most common mistake that parents make is to try to eliminate masturbation completely. This leads to a power struggle which the parents inevitably lose. Children should not be physically punished for masturbation, nor yelled at or lectured about it. Do not label masturbation as bad, dirty, evil, or sinful, and do not tie your child's hands or use any kind of restraints. All of these approaches lead only to resistance and possibly later to sexual inhibitions.
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/ofhc/Article.asp?articleID=1810