Interest in the genitals is normal in childhood, even in the pre-school years. Boys that age can have erections (although they don’t ejaculate), and nearly all boys and girls explore their genitals at some stage, just as they explore their noses, ears and other body parts. You may be embarrassed when you see the child masturbating, but the habit is not harmful.

Research has revealed that almost half of all children under the age of five engage in genital handling and this is probably and underestimate, since some mothers would be reluctant to admit such behaviour and also since many children masturbate in secret. Most parents find the habit embarrassing because they associate it with sexual pleasure, but pre-school masturbation gives comfort, not sexual stimulation. Like other comfort habits, masturbation soothes a child, providing a feeling of relaxation and security

Masturbation is deliberate self-stimulation that results in self-comfort or sexual arousal.  Many parents are alarmed to find their young child engaged in such activities.  Our Western society does not generally like to think of children as sexual beings, but sexual development is as much a part of their normal growth and development as is learning language, playing, and getting the proper nutrition in order to grow.

It is a common childhood habit.

Epidemiology

Most children—both boys and girls—play with their genitals (private parts) fairly regularly by the age of 5-6 years.  By age 15, almost 100% of boys and 25% of girls have masturbated to the point of orgasm.  Estimates of the rate of adult masturbation are about 95-99% of men and 40-60% of women.

Infantile masturbation happens equally in boys and girls, though girls may indulge rather more frequently because their clothes make their genitals more accessible.

It is not contagious.

How do they learn about it?

No one has to teach a child to explore his or her genitals.  It provides a feeling of pleasure, that once discovered, the child will most likely repeat.

There have even been studies of prenatal ultrasounds revealing male fetuses doing it.

Most often, however, boys find their penises accidentally, possibly during a diaper change around six to seven months of age and become curious (not unlike their fascination with other parts of their bodies, such as fingers, toes, ears, etc.).

Some child psychologists think that boys who have seen a naked girl may be fearful that they could lose their penis and end up looking like the girl.  However, no one can be sure of what these toddlers are thinking.

Girls often don’t discover their vulva (female external genitalia) until about ten to eleven months of age.  They may even insert objects into their vaginas as a matter of curiosity—much like the beans and small toys children of this age like to put into their noses and ears.

Genital play in both sexes can also take the form of rubbing with hands or rubbing against other objects such as a pillow, stuffed animal or the bed.

Often the child will be found staring, flushed with an absent look on their faces, breathing fast or irregularly while masturbating.

The behavior generally increases with boredom, sleepiness or stress in the child’s life.  It is important to remember that children do not generally associate this activity with sexuality or adult relationships until much later in childhood, more toward puberty.

This is reassuring to some parents who are alarmed by their child’s behavior.  Genital play is often used simply as a form of self-comfort.

Try not to stop this normal part of development.

The Parent Should Be Alarmed

Most often, masturbation is a normal part of childhood development.  There are some cases, however, when it may be a signal for something more concerning.  In these cases, you should discuss your concerns with the pediatrician.

• If the child seems to have an early understanding of the two-sidedness of the sex act.
• If the activity becomes compulsive and interferes with other normal activities or the child cannot be distracted easily from the masturbation.
• If the child simulates intercourse with another child.
• If any penetration with another child is involved.
• If the activity is intrusive or painful for the child.

· If the activity increases much above the original level, indicating the child is stressed about something and is trying to comfort themselves.

· If there is mouth to genital contact between your child and another child.

• If you feel the child is particularly unhappy or sad.
• If it seems to be accompanied by trauma to the area from scratching or rubbing (the child may have an infection with pinworms or a bladder infection).

In Public

Toddlers and preschoolers do not really understand the social implications of public masturbation, because, as noted earlier, they don’t associate it with private behaviors that occur between adults.

To them, it may be no different than playing with their ears, twirling their hair or picking their nose.

The parent should not bring lots of attention to the matter.  Children enjoy attention of any sort, whether it is negative or positive, and by making a big deal of it, you will only reinforce the behavior and increase its frequency. Don’t try to make masturbation as a forbidden fruit.

Two things happen when something becomes a forbidden fruit. The fruit will be tasted when the opportunity arises, and people will hide what it is they have done. They will learn to hide their exploration from you. This shameful hiding is the one outcome you don't want to produce.

Children should never be punished or shamed for masturbating, as this can have major effects on their self-esteem and comfort with sexual activity as adults.

There are lots of positive ways for parents to keep their kids from masturbating in public places:

• Set limits: Explain to the child that it is a private activity, much like toileting, and should be limited to the bedroom or bathroom.
• Distraction:  Try to get the child interested in another activity with their hands.
• Send toddlers to their room to masturbate if they can’t be distracted from it.
• Ignore masturbation at bedtime or naptime and encourage the child’s daycare to do the same.
• Increase the amount of hugging, cuddling and parental affection you show to the child.
• Give the child a security object (teddy bear, doll, blanket) to take in public, since they may be using masturbation to comfort themselves in an unfamiliar situation.
• For children with developmental delay or other mental impairments who may not be as receptive to reasoning, positive reinforcement techniques may be helpful (for example, reward them for not playing with their genitals with special treats).
• A more low key approach is by gently informing him that you don’t want him to masturbate in front of you. Use terms that he can understand, such as, “Please don’t rub yourself like that.” Do this calmly. And try to divert his attention away from himself onto another activity, such as playing with a toy or listening to a story. However, if he masturbates frequently, it may be a sign of stress, and you will only stop the habit by discovering, then eliminating, the source of stress.
• One of our important responsibilities as parents is to teach our children about healthy sexuality. Whatever your values, you will want to communicate them to your children as the years go by. You will want to teach them that healthy sexuality is not dirty, nor is it cheap.
  
  

Myths

Throughout history, there have been many myths regarding masturbation.  All of these myths are false.  There is no medical basis for any of them.  Below are the TRUTHS about masturbation:

• It does NOT cause blindness.
• It does NOT cause deafness.
• It does NOT cause hair to grow on the palms.
• It does NOT cause stuttering.
• One CANNOT die from it.
• It does NOT mean the child will be promiscuous as an adult.
• It will NOT drive a person crazy.

It IS perfectly healthy as long as it does not interfere with relationships with friends and family, and doing other activities.

Homoeopathic reportorial references

Female; MASTURBATION disposition

Female; MASTURBATION disposition; children, in

Female; MASTURBATION disposition; children, in; pruritus vulva, from

Female; MASTURBATION disposition; children, in; scrofulous

Male; HANDLES genitals; children

Male; MASTURBATION, disposition to

Male; MASTURBATION, disposition to; childhood, since

Male; MASTURBATION, disposition to; children, in

Male; MASTURBATION, disposition to; depressed, when

Male; MASTURBATION, disposition to; excessive

Male; MASTURBATION, disposition to; excessive; every opportunity,at

Male; MASTURBATION, disposition to; involuntary

Male; MASTURBATION, disposition to; irresistible tendency

Male; MASTURBATION, disposition to; mental weakness, with

Male; MASTURBATION, disposition to; puberty, before

Male; MASTURBATION, disposition to; solitude, seeks

Male; MASTURBATION, disposition to; uncontrollable

Male; MASTURBATION, disposition to; worms, from

Mind; COMPANY; aversion to, agg; solitude, fond of; masturbation, to practice

DR. SUMIT GOEL M.D. (Hom)

DR. AMITA AGARWAL BHMS

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