What parents need to do when they catch a child masturbating & bull; hello healthy

Maybe you panicked, shocked, confused and embarrassed, when you found out that your child was masturbating. This condition is quite a lot experienced by parents, so it's natural that you are confused about what to do apart from early sex education that must be taught to children.

Playing with their genitals, or masturbating, is done by children as a means of getting to know the body and it's natural. “If you find your child masturbating, don't be embarrassed or confused. Masturbation is a normal behavior, "said the pediatrician, dr. Dina Kulik, quoted from the Huffington Post.

Elementary school age children to pre-teens are learning a lot, much is not known about themselves, including the organs they have. Research conducted by several researchers in the world has indeed found that the age of masturbation in children is increasingly starting from a very young age. Unfortunately, the results of this study are very difficult to publish for various political reasons.

What should parents do when they see their child masturbating?

1. Don't panic

Panic is not the right action, considering masturbation is a normal thing to do. Basically, masturbation doesn't cause physical harm, doesn't pose a health risk, and doesn't mean your child will turn into a sex maniac. Your child will react even further if you panic. Try to understand, that your child is also human and has new lust.

If your child masturbates constantly or excessively, there may be other causes such as feeling anxious, emotionally disturbed, or not getting enough attention at home. You better consult a doctor.

2. Ignore but pay attention

You may tell your child that his genitals are only for him and only he can touch them. Many parents try to explain this to prevent children from being sexually abused. If this happens when you and your child are alone, try ignoring it for a moment. But still watch it quietly. From this behavior, you can deduce the factors and conditions from which and why your child masturbates.

Try to talk as best as possible with other immediate family members to give a similar reaction if they find out that the child is playing with his genitals. So that your child can better understand how and when he deals with his genitals.

3. Divert attention

For your little one, the best time to masturbate cannot be scheduled like adults in general. This behavior may be done when there are many people around you and your children. The way to anticipate this can be done by distracting your child. Invite him to play, give him a cake or a cookie, or if you can't stand it, you can take him to a quieter place and talk about that the time and place, is not the right time for the child to play with their genitals.

Talk softly and softly, say that this is something that can be done and seen by himself. The purpose of this is how you can distract the child from his genitals.

4. Make your child more active

When children enter school age, at school, children will do more physical activities such as playing running, climbing, and so on. Thus, it does not mean that it is permissible to leave it alone when the preschooler is playing with his genitals. Same, with the diverting method. This method has the potential to make children busy with more beneficial things, so that children can be distracted from their genitals.

Given the human tendency to repeat a behavior or action that is fun, it is not impossible that it will eventually become a habit.

Conclusion

You don't need to worry if you find a son or daughter holding or playing with his genitals because this behavior is part of the consequences of the development process he is experiencing. The important thing is how we react wisely so that it can fulfill his curiosity. Parents should prepare themselves by increasing knowledge to deal with questions and attitudes about sexual behavior that may be done by children, so that children can get satisfying and correct answers.