I have a six year old who refers to her genital area as her "bottom". I realized that I've never really given her a word to use. I don't want it to be some big mystery to her, but obviously at six she doesn't need a detailed anatomy and biology lesson. I don't want to say "vagina" because technically that's what's inside and don't want a cutesy euphemism . Do any of you moms have any suggestions? My mom just avoided the whole subject with me (I definitely don't want to do that!) so I'm a little stuck. Thanks!
2007-10-29 04:14:07 · 29 answers · asked by tarsier2 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Tell her the proper names for vulva and vagina, but for common usage just call it her privates. That's what me and my sisters called it when we were little, it's simple and teaches her that it is private. It would also be recognised if she ever needed to tell anyone else something.
EDIT - reading the other answers, I definitely don't agree with calling it her bottom. It's not correct and, heaven forbid, imagine if she went to a teacher, for example and said a boy touched he bottom? It wouldn't be taken nearly as seriously as it should be.
2007-10-29 05:38:17 · answer #1 · answered by Sally 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Private parts is OK, but vulva is better. Lots of kids know the technical names for their parts, so she's not going to shock her teachers or anything like that.
When you explain what the parts are called, you can also explain that they are private, so we don't share them with our friends or talk about them in public. They are not bad or dirty, just private.
My little girl is 3 and knows the correct terms (although until recently, her brother had a "peanuts" and she had a "hulva").
2007-10-29 04:20:22 · answer #2 · answered by Kellie W 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Not a mom by any means, but I am active in the upbringing of two girls as their father (yes, we are married!!), and we always refer to "that place" as the bottom, still at 8 and 11.
It isn't cutesy and it doesn't go into anatomy.
(I always thought it a lot easier to take care of illness and injury when they were little and could tell me "exactly" where it hurt, so if they mention "bottom" I know it's probably best if Mom takes a look. That's why I would say stick with what you know!)
2007-10-29 04:18:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
The outside part is called a 'vulva'. This is what a team of married vets I know have taught their daughters from the early going. They don't believe in cutesy-ing it up either. There's nothing wrong with her knowing the real term. It's just a body part - yes, it's private, but all of us girls have one.
2007-10-29 04:18:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I am the mother of 3 girls, 10, 9, and 3. We have always refered to that area as thier privates. More specifically instead of vagina we just call it their pee pee, cuz thats where it comes out. Hope this helps it has for us.
2007-10-29 04:19:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Personally, I would stick with "bottom". Calling it by the correct name is not offensive in the least, but you don't want her having to explain to her kindergarten class what a "vagina" is either. I always said that my kids would refer to their "parts" by the correct terms, but now that I actually have one, I am at a loss also.
We refer to Hayleigh's privates as her "bottom" also.
2007-10-29 04:21:23 · answer #6 · answered by ♥♥♥ Mommy to Two ♥♥♥ 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
"Vagina" does not refer to what's inside-it refers to the entire thing and IS it's proper name. Nothing dirty about the word. As the mother of a victim of sexual abuse if something were to happen to your daughter in such a manner you would be very thankful if you at least teach her what the proper name is, even if you use another name at home. If a child tries to tell, nobody knows what they are talking about since everybody uses different words.
All I mean is if you are uncomfortable with the word, use something else but please make sure she at least KNOWS the proper name.
2007-10-29 04:19:42 · answer #7 · answered by Betsy 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
We've been using the term 'vulva' to cover the entire group of female genitalia. I'm sure it won't be long before we start discussing the names of the specific parts.
2007-10-29 06:41:31 · answer #8 · answered by Maureen 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We call it the hmm haaa.....thank you Myron Cope! We've also called it "peep". If she's calling it her bottom, I think that's just fine. As long as you know what she's talking about, that's all that matters. As she gets older you can introduce the correct terminology.
2007-10-29 04:20:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Use the correct terms.
Do you make up ridiculous names for her elbow?
Step up and parent the child. You should have been using the correct terms from day one.
2007-10-29 06:26:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋