Young children masturbate for the same reason that older children and adults do: It feels good! Body exploration is part of growing up. Your child is learning to run, jump, throw, pump a swing, draw, and probably use the toilet regularly.

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Q We have a four-and-a-half year old daughter who is lively, intelligent and friendly and she gets on great with her little sister. Sometimes she can be a little nervous at times or want things done a particular way, though this is nothing unusual. The concern I have is around masturbation.
Why it happens
Jump to content. Many parents are alarmed to find their young child engaged in genital stimulation. However, in young children, genital stimulation is not associated with sexual activity. Genital stimulation can take the form of rubbing with hands or rubbing against other objects such as a pillow, stuffed animal or the bed. Exploring his or her genitals provides a feeling of pleasure, that once discovered, the child will most likely repeat. Children should never be punished or shamed for playing with their genitals, as this can have major effects on their self-esteem and comfort with sexual activity as adults. Boys often find their penises accidentally, possibly during a diaper change around six to seven months of age and become curious just like their fascination with other parts of their bodies, such as fingers, toes and ears. Potty training can be another time when there is curiosity about the genital area.
Parents are generally unprepared for how much a child will touch, grab, pull, poke, and probe their own genitals. And this kind of self-exploration tends to happen far sooner than most parents expect. So what should you do if you catch your child touching themselves? Put it in context and address the issue in a reasonable way. That puts parents on edge. And when parents are on edge, they may resort to shame or anger to stop a practice they consider abnormal or even immoral. The harsh truth is that child masturbation is neither.