Is this normal sexual behavior for a 7 yr old boy? Touching...

  My oldest son is 7. I'm wondering about his sexual behavior and if it's within normal means for a little guy of his age. He has two older sisters (11 & 8) and one younger (5). He also has a little brother whose 2. Since he's my first son he usually has me miffed by his sometimes off beat behavior. I know it normal for him to be curious about his body and his sisters. What I'm not sure of is if the things he's doing are okay and normal.. I've caught him with his little sister once where he had made her take off her undies while he did the same. He was erect and asking her to touch it. I came in time to stop the "play". My 5 year old was distraught over the situation and told me her brother made her take her undies off...she let me know he didn't touch her, & she didn't want to touch him. Coming from a sexually abusive background myself I was beside myself with anger at the situation. I tried my best to remain calm, but my son definatly knew I upset with his actions. We had a good, calm talk and I did the explaining of why this isn't okay and all. I thought he got it. Then yesterday while my son's where in the bath together playing I stepped out of sight from my son, but could see them in the mirror. My older son started foundling my 2 year old son and then sat back and tried to get my 2 year old to do the same to him..my older son was erect. I quickly got him out of the tub and made him leave the room...trying again to contain myself (inside I was BOILING!) My husband was home but was at a loss with the situation...He let it up to me to handle. Once calm I asked my son why he was doing that...no answer. I  how it wouldn't be okay for his dad to do this to him..and how it's not okay for him to do this to his brother. He said okay and I gave him a hug to reassuring him that I wasn't angry at him. My husband doesn't remember being this sexual at this age and doing thing along this line. Are my son's actions just normal growing up curiousities? He also very fond of touching himself..I've let him know this needs to be done in private. Any advice would be great. Thanks!

[Liquid4444]

I believe it is normal for a young boy to have so much curiousity, especially when there are many siblings.  When he is with his siblings, he needs to be watched, especially when bathing in a group. Or, just cut out the group bathing. You are correct, touching and playing with himself should be done in private. There should be clear punishment for playing with himself in public. But not for playing with himself!

[crazymom_1]

just browsing through the internet foud your post, trying to find out what to do about mine, yes I gave him a long talk after I freaked out on him, for the same reasons that you did, and the fact that besides him I have 3 daughters that no matter how much I love him I will not let him hurt. Yes child curiosity is there, but tell me why my little girl has been acting and feeling uncomfortable whe she goes potty whe me or my husband have to clean her up?. Avery close friend of my family who has watched them, told me the same thing the other day, I didnt put 2 and 2 together util last night, we have recently moved to a new house and my 3 year old girl has been having troule sleeping in her room so I thought it was sweet she was going to my sons room to sleep in the middle of the night until last night I heard her squeel and ran back there and there was my child with his hand in her diaper, I really dont know what to do or how to treat him, I look at him and all I think is what I saw, he kows better I swera I've had this conversation with my children at least a hundred times, I dont get it, what am I doing so wrong?. I dont want this behavior of his to continue, and I cant just single him out from the family but I just dont want him around my daughters, Im very angry at him right now so for now he is grounded to his room, i really dont kow how to deal with this.

[Peach1978]

Exasperated

I have a son who will be turning six years old soon and for the past two years (approxiamately) he has been fascinated with genitals both male and female but mostly female body parts. On several occasions he has tried to lift up little girl's dresses and touch their vaginas. I have caught him looking up my towel after getting out of the shower and he has also grabbed his step-brothers' penis'. All this even after I have tried to talk to him about respecting other peoples' bodies. It started out wit his sisters and has now gone to his step-siblings and babysitter's 21 month old daughter.

I have tried to discuss this with him in an understanding and calm way. After so many months I began to get upset with him and scolded him - I've even resorted to shaming finally after two years because I just don't know what else to do.

I am struggling with the idea that this may be just a phase or that this a long term trait since it has been about two years and we keep trying to entrench the same message of respect over and over again.

[justafriend56]

I will say this is normal, looking back on my own childhood. I will say this, your anger about it will not help, and that being naive about it will make matters worse. I say this cause when I was a child i got both sides of it, one my mother was naive thinking that children at 5yrs old don't get sexual arousal or sexual thoughts. and I got the anger, the guilt and shame too. Masturbate was "SECRET", my brother teased me about and my step-father was angry when I "acted out" by touching a girl at school inappropriately.

So, I was given many mixed signals about this issue. So When I was C ought "PLAYING" I feared being in trouble so I would say things like "they made me do it." When I would act out it was always a Secret, so it was always done in a hiding place away from adults. I did end-up at five having sex with the neighbor girl who was 6yrs. That's way I stress don't be naive. It is am important part of parenting and childhood development for parents take an active role in all areas of a child's development.

I look back and realize that if my parents took a more active role my curiosity may not have lead my to sexually acting out at such a young age.

Today Children know more about sex then in resent years. Television and movies play a big role. I believe i had not be exposed to the playboy channel at the age of four I would have not been so curious about the sex issue.

Though sexual awareness starts very young as to seeing the differences between boys and girls, a child seeing adults french kiss will arouse curiosity. where a child will want to do it too. So the rule would not be to shield your children from "Adult like Contact" such as kissing and touching but rather to "Censor" what they watch and they read. you cant always be there when one of their friends shows them a "dirty book" but you can guide them in making the right choices which i know will not always happen.

Talk about it openly, teach them modesty but not shame. your role in their sexual development starts at birth. Be available for them, bring the subject up, they may be ashamed to. Let them know it is health and natural. explain that its not BAD, but little kids don't need to do that. And that you will answer any questions they have. No rule can really be given you are the parent.

One last bit of information. It may not be the case with your child, but you never know. your child may have had a sexual experience with another child not necessarily with an older child.  If that be the case, then your child will have various behavioral changes. if you suspect this is the case counseling is advised, but above all you should open a channel of communication with your child that they feel they can talk to you about anything no matter what the subject.