I’m a mom of a 4-year-old and I’m wondering how other parents introduce the topic of private parts to their kids. I want to make sure I’m teaching the right things without making it awkward or scary. How do you explain what’s private and why? Do you use specific terms or keep it simple? Any tips on what worked (or didn’t) would be really appreciated!
We used the proper terms from the start, it just made things easier!
I totally get your concern! I started by saying something like this: “these are parts only for you and if someone touches them, you tell a trusted grown-up immediately.” I keep it simple and answer any questions as they come up, it’s amazing how curious they can be! My 4 yea old surprised me with some tricky questions, but honesty worked best.
I know it can feel awkward but we found that using real terms like “penis” and “vagina” helped normalize things for our kids. I was worried they’d say those words at the worst times but in the long run, it gave them the right language to communicate if they ever need to. We also explained the concept of private by saying that those are parts just for them and no one should touch them unless its for health, like at the doctr and with a parent present.
We kept things really basic when my kids were little. Something like “your body belongs to you, and some parts are private.” As they got older we added more detail. It’s been a work in progress but starting early has made it feel like a normal conversation rather than a big deal. My oldest even started reminding the younger ones about body rules, which made me feel like we were on the right track.
This was tough for me too but one thing that worked wonders was using books designed for kids about body safety. We read them together, and they made it easier to open the conversation without making it feel like a lecture. Another thing I found helpful was teaching my kids the safe touch/unsafe touch concept. We explained that their bodies are their own and practiced saying no in pretend situations, so they’d feel confident using it if needed. It gets easier with time now my kids talk about it so comfortably, it’s no big deal. You’re doing great by addressing it now, it’s much harder if you wait until they’re older!