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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
3 1/2 yr old masturbating?
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
3 1/2 yr old masturbating?
by freak, Oct 26, 2001 12:00AM
my problem is my daughter, she also uses a stuffed animal and like garmans, situation, is very similar...is this normal? she does it only once a week or so, and when she is caught, she hops up knowing she is wrong. We used to scold her and tell her not to do it or we will throw the stuffed animal away. I have stopped saying anything to her until I get some responses, as I read some of garmans responses I read that punishing her or yelling could only contribute to the problem...anyone please help, I cant stand to see it happen, but I also dont want to cause it to be a bigger problem in future, or possibly scar her for life. I am a firm beliver in "spare not the rod" and or also "time outs" but, dont know how to handle this
PLEASE HELP!!
PLEASE HELP!!
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Oct 28, 2001 12:00AM
, Oct 28, 2001 12:00AM
This is not a discipline situation, so there's no need to think in terms of punishment of any sort. The tone of your note indicates that you think she is engaging in some wrongdoing. If you think that way, it would be sensible to re-think the situation.
If, in truth, your daughter is engaging in the behavior only once wekly, you needn't really address it at all, provided she is doing this in the privacy of her room. However, you probably don't know how often she is doing it - i.e., you only know about the episodes you discover.
The main reason to be concerned about childhood masturbation involves the child's preoccupation with it. In other words, children who are feeling anxious, insecure, threatened, etc., might engage in frequent masturbation as a result. So, it isn't the fact that it occurs that need be a source of worry. But you do need to consider the broader context and determine if your daughter is masturbating as a symptom of worry, anxiety, stress, etc.
If, in truth, your daughter is engaging in the behavior only once wekly, you needn't really address it at all, provided she is doing this in the privacy of her room. However, you probably don't know how often she is doing it - i.e., you only know about the episodes you discover.
The main reason to be concerned about childhood masturbation involves the child's preoccupation with it. In other words, children who are feeling anxious, insecure, threatened, etc., might engage in frequent masturbation as a result. So, it isn't the fact that it occurs that need be a source of worry. But you do need to consider the broader context and determine if your daughter is masturbating as a symptom of worry, anxiety, stress, etc.
