March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010
August 2010
September 2010 October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
January 2011
February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 May 2013 June 2013 July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 October 2013 November 2013 December 2013 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022 January 2023 February 2023 March 2023 April 2023 May 2023 June 2023 July 2023 August 2023 September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 December 2023 January 2024 February 2024 March 2024
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30
31
News Every Day |

When & How You Should Talk to Your Kids About Masturbation

Many children start exploring their bodies at a very young age, which is very normal and natural — and this exploration may help them learn about masturbation sooner than you’d think. After all, they may quickly discover that it feels good, which could lead to some questions about what’s going on there.

This can be a tricky talk for parents, who may be unsure of the appropriate time to approach this subject with their children as well as the appropriate dialogue to use for their age. But just as it’s important to make sure your child has a shame-free understanding of your body, it can also be an important time to teach them about privacy and boundaries as well.

We know this can be a tough subject to navigate, so we asked the experts to weigh in and let us know when we should start the conversation (one of many!) and how to talk to our kids about masturbation in a way that feels somewhat comfortable for everyone. Celebrate Masturbation Month (it’s May!) by better preparing yourself for these conversations that don’t have to be so intimidating!

There is no set age

This conversation really depends on your child. Rachel Wright, a psychotherapist and therapeutic relationship coach, says it’s incredibly important to talk to your kids about masturbation. And as the parent, you know your child best, so lead with that and have the conversation when you feel it will be most beneficial instead of paying attention to a specific age, she tells SheKnows.

Jill Whitney, a licensed marriage and family therapist, agrees and says there is no “right age” to talk to your kids about masturbation. Some toddlers and preschoolers begin touching their genitals at a young age, and when you notice it, you should talk about it right away, she tells SheKnows.

Other kids may be much older, and Whitney suggests if you don’t notice your child self- pleasuring, you should talk to them about masturbation as they are nearing puberty.

“Before puberty, most kids aren’t masturbating to orgasm,” Whitney says. It simply feels pleasurable to them, and some even do it to soothe themselves.

Typically, those with a penis start masturbating when they start getting erections and wet dreams. When they reach this point in their life, Whitney explains, it’s important to let them know what’s happening to their body is normal, even if you aren’t sure if they have started masturbating yet. People with vaginas usually discover self-pleasuring on their own and should be taught they have a clitoris that’s only used for sexual pleasure, says Whitney. Let them know where it’s located, “toward the front of the vulva,” and let them know they should look for it at some point.

While they may be surprised by your comment, it’s so important to teach them we are “built for sex to feel good,” Whitney adds. This also takes away any shame they may be feeling about masturbating.

As your children get older, it may feel more awkward to talk to them about masturbation. Most kids shy away from this as they get older and don’t want to talk to their parents about it at all. Whitney says there is no need to go into detail about it at this age as long as you are normalizing masturbation. An example of what you can say to your older child is, “Some people used to think it was wrong or unhealthy to masturbate, but of course that’s not true. It’s completely healthy and normal to touch yourself any way that feels good to you.”

Your child will probably not have a positive reaction to your mentioning it to them, but that’s OK. The important thing is “you’ve made the point that self-pleasuring is nothing to be ashamed of,” Whitney says.

Don’t make your child feel wrong for masturbating

Masturbating is something almost everyone does, and there should never be any shame attached to it. The way you talk to your child about masturbation, especially your tone, can make a lasting impression. Whitney says to “be calm, warm and matter-of-fact” when addressing the potentially touchy subject.

Along the same lines, as much as we want to convey the message that it’s normal, parents also have the challenge of explaining that masturbation isn’t something that should be done in public.

Wright says a good way to approach this with a younger child who has discovered masturbation would be to say something like, “Just like we don’t go potty in the middle of the grocery store, we don’t stick our hands in our pants in the grocery store either,” and says the focus should be more on where it’s happening, not what is happening.

Set boundaries

It is OK to tell your child there are appropriate places and times to touch their genitals. According to Whitney, a good way to start the conversation is to say something like, “I know it feels nice to touch yourself like that but your penis/vulva is a private part of your body, and touching yourself there is a private activity. So, not in the living room OK? Save it for when you are alone in your bedroom.”

This way, your child does not feel wrong about masturbation or that it’s off-limits. You are simply teaching them there is a time and place for doing so and that boundary-setting is a totally healthy part of any dynamic.

Wright mentions the importance of telling your child with a penis that “not all holes are created equal” so they are aware of what is safe and what could be dangerous.

If your child has a vulva, talk to them about what is safe to put near it or in their vagina. We teach our children the right and safe way to do things, such as how to brush their teeth and eat healthy foods, and masturbation needs to be included in these teachings, Wright adds.

What to look out for

If you feel your child is excessively masturbating at home and in public, even after you’ve talked to them about it, Wright says it might be a good time to talk about it. Similarly, she says that if they are masturbating “in conjunction with other symptoms of behavioral or emotional difficulty” or you notice inappropriate sexual talk or activity, you may want to talk to your pediatrician about their behavior.

Consent

According to Wright, masturbation is a great gateway to talk about consent with your child as well. You can say things like, “Would you force yourself to masturbate if you didn’t want to?” And then go on to talk about how we never force anyone to do something they don’t want or allow anyone to touch our bodies in a way that makes us uncomfortable. You can then reiterate the fact it is OK to touch your own genitals in private, but not someone else’s.

And while these chats with your kids may not be easy, they are an important part of their sexual development and education and well worth your time and effort.

A version of this story was published August 2018.

Before you go, refresh your own orgasm knowledge with these six types of orgasms you can have:

orgasms-you-didnt-know-youcould-have

Новости 24 часа

Федеральный девелопер: ЦФА позволят легко и просто накопить квадратные метры и "обернуть" их в квартиру

I was diagnosed with cancer aged 39… you are never too rich, too famous or too young, says Dr Philippa Kaye

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!

Top 10 Emmanuelle Seigner Movies

Top 10 Love Affair Movies of the 2000s and 2010s

Ria.city






Read also

Federal appeals judges seem wary of GOP attempt to block part of Illinois’ vote-by-mail law

What’s Next for 3 Body Problem?

House to send Mayorkas impeachment charges to Senate on April 10

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

Top 10 Love Affair Movies of the 2000s and 2010s



Sports today


Новости тенниса
WTA

Виктория Азаренко вышла в полуфинал турнира WTA-1000 в Майами



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

Федерация бокса России на ВДНХ



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

Блиц-матч по шахматам между двумя командами провели в павильоне «Спорт для каждого»


Новости России

Game News

Пробный запуск вампирского градостроя Vampire Legacy: City Builder


Russian.city


Светлана Светличная

Сын Светличной рассказал, что не знает подробностей о состоянии матери


Губернаторы России
ЦСКА

В хоккейном ЦСКА сменился главный тренер


Участники новой суперсерии «Бойцовского клуба РЕН ТВ» прошли взвешивание

Шапки женские вязаные на Wildberries, 2024 — новый цвет от 392 руб. (модель 466)

Лавров заявил, что сфер сотрудничества России и Запада практически не осталось

Metaratings: "Спартак" может уволить Абаскаля по ходу сезона, клуб ищет тренера


Тариф – Большой Концертный Тур. Организация серии больших концертов.

Ольга Бузова стала человеком-невидимкой на ТВ-3 в новом сезоне легендарного шоу о звёздах

Амигуруми: как связать Фредди Меркьюри крючком (узор и схема)

Концерт группы "Пикник" начался с минуты молчания в память о погибших в "Крокусе"


Хачанов победил Черундоло и пробился в 1/8 финала турнира ATP в Майами

Азаренко вышла в полуфинал турнира WTA-1000 в Майами

Виктория Азаренко вышла в полуфинал турнира WTA-1000 в Майами

Хачанов: хочу вернуться в топ-10 ATP



«Радио Зенит» – информационный партнер форума «Мы вместе. Спорт»

Шапки женские вязаные на Wildberries, 2024 — новый цвет от 392 руб. (модель 466)

Перенос дат II этапа культурного проекта «Классика: история и современность» в Дмитрове

Пассажир рейса Москва — Пермь попал в реанимацию


Чемпионат по зимнему плаванию пройдет в Пскове

США включили ряд российских блокчейн-платформ в список SDN

Водителя водовоза, врезавшегося в лайнер в Домодедово, парализовало за рулем

Сергей Собянин: Новый путепровод улучшит пропускную способность других трасс


Путин отчитал Беглова за место Петербурга в туристическом рейтинге

Перенос дат II этапа культурного проекта «Классика: история и современность» в Дмитрове

Участник клуба «Активное долголетие» из Рошаля сдал нормы ГТО по стрельбе

Лавров заявил, что сфер сотрудничества России и Запада практически не осталось



Путин в России и мире






Персональные новости Russian.city
ГУАП

Финал всероссийского студенческого трека Олимпиады Кружкового движения НТО «Летающая робототехника» 2024



News Every Day

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости