Ds facination with private parts, including his sister's

Echowysp

I know it's normal to go through a private parts stage.  We're in the poopy/pee-pee talk stage too.  But I can't seem to express to ds how important it is for him to not talk about his penis, his sister's privates/butt (drives me even more crazy!), or to giggle and smack his crotch, while giggling "Pee pee! Pee pee!" and then teaching his 2 year old sister to do it too.

I try to talk to him about privates and how we don't do it in public, but he does it all day long.  

Ignore it?  I'm having a hard time ignoring the poop/pee pee talk, even though I know I should, because it comes off as defiance to me.  I'm sure it's more reaction and impulse control, but it's so frustrating.

macchiatto

Yeah ... we are working on that stuff too. More so talking about it, or asking me "Does soandso have a penis? Does soandso have a penis?" which, you know, is fine at home as they're trying to sort out these things but they need to learn appropriate boundaries. I wish I had a good answer.

ilovemygirls

I have always told my kids that you talk about your private parts in private.  I'd let the first couple go, then say calmly "You know, I've heard enough about that so please go to your (room/bathroom/wherever) where you're welcome to talk about them all you want."  It's not a time out- you're not mad, it's just a more appropriate place for all that chatter about it.  And when he's there by himself, with no audience?  I think he'll get bored of that pretty quickly.  If not, then just let him stay in there as long as he wants. 

I think it's important for him to know that if he has a question or a concern about his private parts to always ask mom or dad, but that the silly stuff about it all is really not what you want to hear & he can do that by himself if he wants to.

LoveEeyore

I agree- I would start wwith reminding them that all of that is potty talk and belongs in the bathroom.  In the past, with a child with behavior issues and refusal to outgrow this phase that always collects giggles, I had the mom take him in the bathroom, sit down on the floor and encourage him to set the timer for ___minutes and he had free license to potty talk.  Of course after 30 seconds, he'd run out and mom would press him for more, contribute her own, not in a humorus, yay this is fun way, but we're here to discuss this, let's do it.  And then pester him for more.  Seriously, done enough times, the amusement went out quickly.  In his case it was for attention.

In my DDs case I ignored and she outgrew it.  It started when DS started using the toilet and inviting everyone in the house to watch.  She told the pharmacist at CVS that he had a "Very large penis!" and for her I think it was pride in her acumen, rather than collecting giggles.  In that case I think the potty talk would be confusing.

luckymom3

ilovemygirls:

I have always told my kids that you talk about your private parts in private.  I'd let the first couple go, then say calmly "You know, I've heard enough about that so please go to your (room/bathroom/wherever) where you're welcome to talk about them all you want."  It's not a time out- you're not mad, it's just a more appropriate place for all that chatter about it.  And when he's there by himself, with no audience?  I think he'll get bored of that pretty quickly.  If not, then just let him stay in there as long as he wants. 

I think it's important for him to know that if he has a question or a concern about his private parts to always ask mom or dad, but that the silly stuff about it all is really not what you want to hear & he can do that by himself if he wants to.

This. Exactly. It really seems to work with DS. When we aren't there to hear it, he doesn't want to say it anymore. It's just to get a rise out of us.

KathrynMD

We follow the private parts are for private areas - either your bedroom or bathroom.  Your privates are your privates and so are everyone else's, so you need to keep them to yourself.  We're working on what you can talk about in public  - "is that a girl" "does she have a baby in her tummy?" kinda questions - and I've told DD she needs to ask me or daddy questions in a whisper first.

ridesbuttons

ilovemygirls:

I have always told my kids that you talk about your private parts in private.  I'd let the first couple go, then say calmly "You know, I've heard enough about that so please go to your (room/bathroom/wherever) where you're welcome to talk about them all you want."  It's not a time out- you're not mad, it's just a more appropriate place for all that chatter about it.  And when he's there by himself, with no audience?  I think he'll get bored of that pretty quickly.  If not, then just let him stay in there as long as he wants. 

I think it's important for him to know that if he has a question or a concern about his private parts to always ask mom or dad, but that the silly stuff about it all is really not what you want to hear & he can do that by himself if he wants to.

This is really well said.

Echowysp

Thanks for the advice, ladies.  I have been telling him that they are private, so I will tell him he can look at it/talk about it in a private place.  I think I need to get a book from the library to address it too. 

As cute as this age can be, boy, it's got some annoying features!

neverblushed

ilovemygirls:

I have always told my kids that you talk about your private parts in private.  I'd let the first couple go, then say calmly "You know, I've heard enough about that so please go to your (room/bathroom/wherever) where you're welcome to talk about them all you want."  It's not a time out- you're not mad, it's just a more appropriate place for all that chatter about it. 

This is what I did, and it really cut down on the incessant fascination with parts! 

jlw2505

Totally normal stage.  With my girls, we have told them that they can talk about that stuff in the privacay of their own rooms and the bathroom and that every place else is off limits.