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Avatar universal

My son and taking pics

My 6 year old son is taking pictures of his penis, his exposed rectum, and video taping himself talking to his penis calling it Little Darlin.  He received an itouch for Christmas and is taking pictures with it.  I am concerned.  Should he see a therapist? Is it normal to have these sexual feelings?  I am recently divorced and he lives with me full time.  Could it be a lack of a male figure?  Could this be his way of expressing the loss of his family? Please help!  
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Avatar universal
I'm on this site because the same thing, exactly the same thing. I'm selling the iPod, he knows its inappropriate and that's why he is doing it. My son was sticking his tongue out, showing his penis and rectum. My pet peeve is him sticking his tongue out so I know he knows that is inappropriate. If he goes to school that's more than likely where he learned it from. As molestation is serious don't just assume it didn't happen because if it did that must be dealt with. Boys in bathrooms will show their penis to others to get attention for doing something shocking. You have a problem just as I do. My son has other behavior problems and yours my too. I'm prepared to be in for a long haul and I have considered a therapist.
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Avatar universal
Yes, I think talkign to a professional about it would not be a bad idea.  I am concerned about him giving it a nickname. Sometimes my little boy will talk about his pee-pee as he calls it.  He's six too.  But not excessively.  He does talk about his bottom too.  I think tis' just something boys do. I did talk to him about only letting parents and doctors see his private parts.  

I think he is a little young for the itouch or if you let him have it, let it be very supervised time.

melissa
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973741 tn?1342342773
Good grief.  Something is very wrong here on a couple of levels.

Yes, you should be concerned if this is true.  He is pretty young at 6 and this business of taking pictures, video, etc. is within YOUR control as his parent.  I'd take the itouch-------- honestly, he is WAY too young for it.  How do we know he is way too young for it?  Well, he is using it inappropriately.  Second, where are his boundaries that you set.  Okay, you see one picture and what do you do?  I touch is gone and a discussion about what is appropriate and what will be tolerated is had.  You set the rules and you must do so.  That is what parents are for.  

I get that your bigger question is why is he doing this.  I don't know.  There is a chance that he has seen something (porn of some sort), seen someone or had someone do this to him.  Yes, that is a chance that you should discuss with him.  If you have any fear that something has happened to him---------  take him to a therapist pronto.  No, I do not think it is lack of a male in his life so I'd not worry about that.  But there seems to be a lack of authority in his life. It takes one time of doing something unacceptable to trigger a parental reaction.  

So to reiterate, I'd have a discussion about what he can and can't do, get rid of the ipod touch, and try to get to the bottom of the issue.  I agree that seeing your rectum in a sexual way is a sign of possible molestation at that age.  I also think he is sexualized about his penis that would worry me. So, I'd follow up on this and take him to a therapist.  He also could be doing it for laughs------------  and your job is to let him know that it isn't funny.  good luck
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Avatar universal
I am not a kids behavior specialist, but I was a 6 years old boy many years ago.

Being curious / proud / a little exhibitionist about his penis is, I believe, perfectly normal, and should not be reprimanded - he would just need to be explained that these are "private parts" as they were called in the old days, and they should remain private because it is not appropriate to show them to just anybody now that he is growing up from a baby to a young boy.

However, and I don't want to alarm you too much, the "little darlin" part got me a little worried when I read you message - I am not a native English speaker, but I am not sure this is current vocabulary for a 6 year old kid to use: would he call a pet, or his favorite teddy bear, my little darling? If so, then there may be nothing to worry about. But this, and his interest for his own rectum, could be the sign of an adult touching him inappropriately. A chat with him, and maybe the help of a child therapist, may be helpful to clarify if there is an issue or not.
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Avatar universal
I think your confused about the topic.  He is actively involved in basketball and baseball and is a full time student from 7 am to 3:30.  So having to much free time is not the issue.  I have considered taking away the itouch, but what if he didn't know it was wrong and was just curious?  Reprimanding him would only make him more curious.  It doesn't solve the problem.  Every boy is curious about his private growing up but I think we have never faced this type of technology at a young age, therfore don't have an answer for it.  I am definately going to tell him it is wrong and not appropriate behavior, but more importantly I want to know why.  Questions go through my head like is someone touching him inappropriately? Why would a 6 year old call his penis names and talk to it? Who knows.  It is definately disturbing and something new to parenting I think.  But then again, I have neighbors whose kids are 7 and still run around naked in the back yard.  Boys will be boys but I think we tell them what is right and hopefully they will learn from it.  If not then a therapist is my next solution.
Helpful - 0
13167 tn?1327194124
This is a child who has too much free unsupervised time.

I would take away his itouch,  or whatever camera thing he has,  and redirect his energy to athletics or academics of something else.

Enough photographic his privates.
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