IS IT NORMAL FOR A 4 YR. OLD BOY TO MASTERBATE?

Hi, Im new to this site.  My son is 4 years old but since he was 3yrs. old I would catch him humping on the bed, or his hands but with his pants on. Today I went in the bedroom & his pants were down rubbing on the bed. This really scares me. I read other forums today & it seems normal. But i never knew being so young & experimenting. I asked what are you doing? He says nothing, he knows hes not suppose to do it by the way he answers me, scared. I dont know what to do? Please any true advice I would appericate. Thank you

[Liquid4444]

Don't let it scare you. It is quit normal. If you encounter it again, just ignore it and work around it. If you have to speak to him, just talk about what you wanted to. If he starts going public with his rubbing on the bed and getting an erection, then it is time to talk to him about going private. He doesn't know what he is doing, all he knows is what ever it is, it feels wonderful. As long as he doesn't know what he is doing, no one is teaching or using strange words around him. He just found out by himself, that his penis feels good when he rubs it with his hand or against something and makes it hard. This activity may go away later. If it doesn't, then it must go private, and you mustn't know about it as he gets older. Some boys discover their rear ends. So I hope yours doesn't. but if he does, don't be surprise and treat it with more aggressiveness.

[nannyinnc]

I am now a grandmother of a healthy 'lil boy who has been humping, mainly, his stuffed tiger since about 16 months old but he'd only do this at bedtime and naptime. He has balled up covers though if he didn't have his tiger and he just seems to do this until he falls asleep. Hasn't done this any other time. I have used the "old" noggin to think back though to my own 2 children when they were younger and I can remember that my daughter around the age of 2 use to like to lay over chairs and "rock" and my son didn't really start until like the age of 4 when I first walked in on him at bedtime and I just quietly backed out of the room. I think that by making it a big deal will only confuse the child who at this age has no idea what sex is, this is of course "our" hang up and by making it something wrong or bad is going to be very hard for the child to understand because for the most cases it's just something they found on their very own, when they are usually by themselves in the privacy and comfort of their own room/bed. I guess we worry because we wonder have they seen something or heard something maybe they shouldn't have but if you really stop and think about it more than likely they have not. As most others have stated they just found out all on their own that this sure does feel good to do so I think I'll do it. As long as they're doing it privately I'd just leave it alone and not make them feel like they're doing something bad or wrong for that's when you may really say something they won't understand and that could leave them with some feelings they don't know how to deal with and possibly scar them. If the child starts going more public I would either try to do an activity to distract them or maybe in a kind way let them know they might feel better "rocking" in private. Not sure you want to introduce the word "humping" to them 'cuz as we all know to well...they'll say that just as soon as you don't want them to at Sunday dinner with the grandparents and preacher sitting at the table!! lol If it helps, I'm 50 and have been working with children since I was in 7th grade and think they are FABULOUS!!