My 4 year old was doing something weird

[DreamsInDigital]

I was sitting in the living room with my 4 year old and he got up and went into the bathroom and then to his room and shut the door. A few minutes went by and it was pretty darn quiet ( a little too quiet, if you know what I mean) so I went to check on him and he was butt naked on his bed, holding a stuffed animal in a very odd way, sporting a baby erection.
I just went "Uhhhh put some clothes on" and ran back out.
I didn't know how to react or what to say and I didn't want to freak him out and leave a bad impression that would potentially scar him so I didn't say anything else.
What do I do? I didn't think they started doing stuff like that until they were teenagers.

[AnnMarie]

Re: My 4 year old was doing something weird

Originally posted by DreamsInDigital

What do I do? I didn't think they started doing stuff like that until they were teenagers.

I probably wouldn't do anything. If I saw him doing it in front of people then I would probably tell him it was OK, but it should be done in private.

[mamangazelle]

I totaly agree, I wouldn't do anything. In fact, I wouldn't have said to put his clothes on. Dd knows she can "experiment" with her body in the bathroom or in her bedroom, but that she has to wear clothes in the rest of the house (I don't mind naked, but otherwise she says things like "look mom, I'm tickling my vulva and it's very funny" )
Maybe if you get the occasion (and are OK with what he was doing) you could mention that it is OK to do these things (even if it means being buttnaked) in his bedroom.

[guestmama9924]

my girls started that at about the same age. Totally normal. I let them know that that is private and that they should not play around in front of others.I think I have said something like " I know that feels good, but that is private and should only be done when you are away from others" .... I left it at that

a friend's little boy about 5 was overheard telling his 4 year old brother after waking from their naps," oh that happens to me, just smack it!" needless to say we, the ladies in the living room knew what they were discussing, and did not know whether to blush, giggle or chomp our chips louder

[Marsupialmom]

Nope it is a four year old thing.

I personally would apologise for not knocking. That your son was doing something private in the proper place and you were rude for not knocking. Apologise for interupting his private time like that.

[LunaMom]

I agree with the above - what your son was doing is really not at all "weird." Most children discover that touching their genitals feels good, and plenty use things like stuffed animals or the arms of chairs or whatever to rub themselves against.

Unless your son is doing this excessively (meaning to the exclusion of all other activities) or you have ibserved any major changes in his behavior, I wouldn't worry.

Oh, and if he has just "discovered" this, he might do it quite a bit at first and then it'll taper off...so be careful with what you label as excessive!