Raising a nude child...

[NekkidAl]

Hello, all. I am a home nudist with a three year old son and an almost 10 month old daughter.

My wife (who will walk around the house topless often but will not consider herself a naturist) and I decided to allow "naked time" for our son as a reward during potty training (I think the currently PC term is toilet learning). Now that he is a potty pro, he asks for and enjoys his naked time at the end of a long, hard day.

My question comes in this... when he has his naked time, his hands invariably wander to to touching and exploring his penis and testicles. I am sure this is natural and part of growing up at this particular stage in his life, I would like to know how others of you with children have handled (no pun intended) the situation. I don't want to put a nix on his naked time nor do I want to quelch his natural curiosity. I do, however, want to somehow get across that this type of behavior is okay by one's self but not really amongst others.

Ideas? Suggestions??

Thanks!

[NekkidAl]

Hello, all. I am a home nudist with a three year old son and an almost 10 month old daughter.

My wife (who will walk around the house topless often but will not consider herself a naturist) and I decided to allow "naked time" for our son as a reward during potty training (I think the currently PC term is toilet learning). Now that he is a potty pro, he asks for and enjoys his naked time at the end of a long, hard day.

My question comes in this... when he has his naked time, his hands invariably wander to to touching and exploring his penis and testicles. I am sure this is natural and part of growing up at this particular stage in his life, I would like to know how others of you with children have handled (no pun intended) the situation. I don't want to put a nix on his naked time nor do I want to quelch his natural curiosity. I do, however, want to somehow get across that this type of behavior is okay by one's self but not really amongst others.

Ideas? Suggestions??

Thanks!

[NudePete]

I suggest you try to deal with it in the same way that you would for nose picking, or for chewing with an open mouth. Don't make too big a deal over it.

[lovebeingnude]

As he is only 3 years old, I wouldn't worry about it. You don't want to give him a complex.

Now, if he was doing it in front of company, you may want to discourage it as you would bad table manners.

Just my 2 cents.

[NekkidAl]

Thanks for the replies. So far I have been treating it like nose-picking... "everyone does it, but you just shouldn't do it around other people as it would be considered bad manners" or something like that.

[KetchumMaine]

quote:

In Understanding the Sexual behavior of Children Dr Toni Cavanagh Johnson wrote:
Normal childhood sexual play is an information gathering process. Children explore — visually and through touch — each other’s bodies (for example, play doctor), as well as try out gender roles and behaviors (e.g., play house). Children involved in such explorations are of similar age and size, are generally of mixed gender; are friends rather than siblings, and participate on a voluntary basis ("I’ll show you mine if you show me yours!"). The typical feeling level of these children, in regard to sexually-related behaviors, is light-hearted and spontaneous. In natural sexual play or exploration, children often are excited, and they feel and act silly and giggly.

If this level of behavior is considered normal by a PhD, then I would consider self exploration to be normal. The only thing I would suggest you address is exploration when others are present. Grandma may not have the same level of training as Dr. Johnson (Dr. Johnson the PhD, not your son exploring his 'Johnson').

[hootowl]

In an effort to calm all spirits withn these forums, I offer the following site: JustImagine_SandFantasy.wmv

[JamieC-Ireland]

Hey Al

ive 2 daughters, now 14 and 15 and have been where you are

both of them were, and are, raised in the lifestyle.

then they were kids, whether clothed or not, they would roam with their hands....as far as i know all kids do, they are just exploring their bodies, like a baby putting their foot in their mouth

treat it as you would anything else, its ok, just not in front of company

[KetchumMaine]

quote:

Originally posted by hootowl:
In an effort to calm all spirits withn these forums, I offer the following site: JustImagine_SandFantasy.wmv

ahem, that is a file. We night need a web site from which to download that file.

[nacktman]

Al, the best way to deal with his exploration is to let him do it, he will move on to other things fairly quickly. If you make an issue of it, it will last longer.

My kids did the same thing at his age and so did my grandchildren, the youngest just finished her exploratory phase last year as she turned five.
Now her biggest concern in life is learning to dribble the soccer ball so she can play soccer.
Next week it will be something else and my kids give me the "You Bastard" look when they see my "I told you so and payback is heck" grin when she comes up with her next escapade knowing they did the same things as children.

[sw1sweendog]

hell! im 41 and im still doing it!

[jason_boomer23]

from what my mum told me i did that constantly for a few months when i was a child, you grow out of it when you find something else that facinates you, with me it was a certain cartoon

[Naturist Mark]

quote:

Originally posted by KetchumMaine:
ahem, that is a file. We night need a web site from which to download that file.

Just Imagine - Sand Fantasy

-Mark

[Bob S.]

As others have mentioned, exploration is natural and should not necessarily be squelched. However, if he is exploring at inopportune times, or if you just don't want him to do it, the best thing to do is to distract him. At three-years-old, that is an easy thing.

Bob S.

[johny]

Naturist Mark:
Thanks for wonderful wmf.