Hi everyone I would really like some advice. My almost 7 year old has started playing with his penis more the last month so he comes up to me with his hands on it constantly. I'm having trouble explaining to him not to play with it when next to me. He doesn't understand. He just said "but your my mum" I don't want him to get the wrong idea that it's a dirty thing to do I'm just trying to teach him to do it in private not when standing next to me talking about pj masks and roblox. He has a language delay so he sometimes misunderstands things people say.
2 Replies
Its a privacy concept kids get with age. When theyre young, themself and mum are basically classed as one person. As they get older they want and understand privacy from others and eventually from mum as well.
perhaps set rooms instead ie) your bedroom or the bathroom only, then if youre there you can leave. If he did it in the kitchen i would say, dont do that while youre talking to me either stop or take it to your room.
Keep it simple. If he's doing it in front of you/other people just say "We do this in private remember" and carry on with the conversation.
Make sure he understands what private actually means, ie bedroom, toilet, bathroom.
Keep reminding him but don't always be on his case about it, I feel like that will make him self conscious and feeling like he's constantly doing something wrong. It's a very normal behavior and sometimes they aren't even aware they're doing it.