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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
My 6 year old touching his 4 year old brother help!
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
My 6 year old touching his 4 year old brother help!
by momstress, Nov 01, 2009 02:13PM
My son who is turning 6 this week will not stop touching his 4 year old brother. At first I thought it was inocent, when in the bath together they started to get curious and would touch (I stopped giving them baths together) The one day my older son had his younger brother pined down and had his pants of with his finger in his brothers but. I freaked out and took him to a phsycologist who saw him a couple times and that was it. He stopped for awhile but today he bit his younger brothers pennis over his pajams. When I asked why he said because his brother touched him. I don't realy think his brother started it. I explained to him again that we do not touch where the bathing suit covers. but as a mom it is freaking me out. I am not only worried about my older son but about his brother who is getting taken advantage of. What is this doing to my younger son? Is he going to repeat this on other kids. And I am worried about my older son being some freak that can't keep his hands off others. He has not done this to other kids that I know of but he is very touchy feely when it comes to others. For example he loves to sit next to girls and run their backs or their hair. When he was to he would sit with a two year old girl and just pet her hair like he was in love. We thought it was cute but now I don't know if he has something more going on.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Nov 02, 2009 07:14AM
, Nov 02, 2009 07:14AM
The most important thing to do is to continue to set firm limits on his touching other children. Because he so indiscriminate in his touching, I would suggest the rule for him should be NO TOUCHING (not just no touching of the genital area or buttocks). While it usually makes sense in such situations to investigate possible mistreatment, the behavior itself does not necessarily indicate that he has been mistreated. In dealing with this it is important that you stay calm and maintain your equanimity. When you use words such as 'freaking me out' and 'freak' it indicates that you have some work to do to keep this in perspective and not become so emotional about it. It would make sense to return to the psychologist for a few sessions and see what he/she thinks at this point.
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