Seven year old likes to touch his penis. Does it really start this early?

[Anonymous]

My DS likes to touch his penis. This started about 6 months ago and after initial concern that someone may have done or shown something to him, we're confident that he discovered this all on his own. In fact, without shame, he tells us that it feels good to touch it and he likes it. We've tried not to make a big deal out of it, telling him that it's something he should do privately and he seems to get that now because as I was tucking him in, he asked if he could touch it in bed. (He shares his room with his siblings). My DH doesn't remember doing it so young and it's not something I really want to ask my brothers. He's also discovered he can take pictures with our cell phones. He stuck DH's down his pants and took a picture of his penis - which he insists on calling his 'weenie', a term we know he learned at school.

Is this normal?

[Anonymous]

I hope it's normal. My 4 year-old son has been touching his penis for, well, 4 years.

[Anonymous]

Glad you posted. My DS is 6.5 and lately I have noticed a real uptick in the amount of time he spend spanking the monkey. PP notes that this has gone on for years, but he seems to look forward to it more these days.

[Anonymous]

I have an ultrasound picture of my son at 30 weeks - he is clearning holding on to his penis for dear life, confirming my long-held belief that the penis obsession starts in utero.

[Anonymous]

You mean he waited until he was seven?

[Anonymous]

Well, at least he'll be well-prepared for married life.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, the only thing I picked up on was the camera phone.

You might try to draw out more about what other times he uses the phone to see if you hear anything interesting.

I suspect its all totally normal though.

[Anonymous]

Well, my son also thought it was hilarious to take a picture of his penis. Har de har har, son. I explained why it wasn't appropriate. And yeah, my son's been playing with his penis for forever, with an uptick around that age.

Really, who needs toys when you have a penis?

[Anonymous]

OK, I've been wondering why my son has been going to bed at night lately with nary a protest about "It's too early". I wonder what he's doing in there...he's 8.

[Anonymous]

my almost 5 year old has been touching his for almost 5 years. he often comes home from school, goes upstairs to pee, comes downstairs with no underwear or pants on, and proceeds to play while holding his penis. we've been working on him putting his pants back on after he pees.

[Anonymous]

Wow. He started 6 years after my son.

Just tell him touching is something we do in private, and let him play away in his own room. Totally normal.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I'm SO glad to know he's within the range of normal! As PPs noted, he's always known it's there but he's really been much more into lately. I suppose I should be happy he's got no shame about it and comfortable talking to us about it. On the other hand, I don't want him getting too comfortable. His impulse control isn't quite as mature has his motor control - if you know what mean. Thanks everyone!

[Anonymous]

21:46 here again...on the subject of open communication, when my son was about three, I asked him if he wanted to go to the park. He thought about it for a second, and said, " I want to go in my room and play with my penis, THEN go to the park!"

[Anonymous]

I don't mean to sound disrespectful to anyone here but these posts made my day. I actually laughed out loud. I have a two year old boy and grew up in a very conservative home with my father being the only male in the house. needless to say I always worry about knowing/not knowing boy "things" and this is one of them. I'm so happy to have read these.

[Anonymous]

OP here - no offense taken at all. It is very funny once you know it's "normal". I'm so glad I'm girl.