Birds & Bees books for preschoolers - Page 4

[2xy]

Originally Posted by quedal 

I can not even begin to describe how disenheartening it is to get on mothering.com, a community to unite and support women in their quest for a happy, healthy home, and see that they are all bickering over silly things like what to call your privates. Yoni, vagina, vulva, power bundle, blah blah blah. It is just a shame. If a responsible care provider needs more clarification as to what part of your crotch hurts, they're gonna figure it out, asking the same question I would at home "inside or outside babe?"  More power to us mamas who can talk openly, honestly, and candidly to our children about their bodies and their experiences with their bodies, without stressing them out with a vocab test.

Yet most mamas on here agree that children should be taught what their private's names are. Why bother teaching "correct" terminology if it's not correct? Why not just teach boys that they have peckers/willies/pee-pees, and girls have coochies or hoo-has?

I thought there was a point to using the words penis and vagina.....???

Maybe it's silly to you, but it's not to me. When someone tells me that she has a rash on her vagina, it's confusing. When my son was very little, he used to get the word "nipple" mixed up with "pimple." I guess I shouldn't have bothered correcting him, because words don't matter.

And honestly, none of the kids I know who know the proper names for their body parts seem to be stressed out about it. YMMV.

[lovingmommyhood]

Originally Posted by 2xy 

Yet most mamas on here agree that children should be taught what their private's names are. Why bother teaching "correct" terminology if it's not correct? Why not just teach boys that they have peckers/willies/pee-pees, and girls have coochies or hoo-has?

I thought there was a point to using the words penis and vagina.....???

Maybe it's silly to you, but it's not to me. When someone tells me that she has a rash on her vagina, it's confusing. When my son was very little, he used to get the word "nipple" mixed up with "pimple." I guess I shouldn't have bothered correcting him, because words don't matter.

And honestly, none of the kids I know who know the proper names for their body parts seem to be stressed out about it. YMMV.

I agree with teaching your children the proper terminology but one of the first posts on here was "The clitoris is NOT part of the vagina." And so it goes with every "What do YOU call it?" post on MDC. Bickering over who can be more anatomically correct. It's getting old, and fast. Who are these someone's telling you they have a rash on their vagina?  If it were my daughter, I'd lay her down and look and I'd quickly realize by visualization, where this rash was. "vagina" just gets you in the right ball park.

I, personally, am sticking with power bundle and if I tell someone I have a rash on it then...well, it'll just be fun watching them try to figure it out. 

[MamaofLiam]

Originally Posted by lovingmommyhood 

Who are these someone's telling you they have a rash on their vagina?  If it were my daughter, I'd lay her down and look and I'd quickly realize by visualization, where this rash was. "vagina" just gets you in the right ball park.

I, personally, am sticking with power bundle and if I tell someone I have a rash on it then...well, it'll just be fun watching them try to figure it out. 

The whole thing made me laugh, but especially the bolded. Just picturing it. LOL 
 

[2xy]

Originally Posted by lovingmommyhood 

I agree with teaching your children the proper terminology but one of the first posts on here was "The clitoris is NOT part of the vagina." And so it goes with every "What do YOU call it?" post on MDC. Bickering over who can be more anatomically correct. It's getting old, and fast. Who are these someone's telling you they have a rash on their vagina? 

Well, I worked in an OB/GYN office for several years. I've talked to lots of women.

It's not over who can be more anatomically correct. It's not a contest. It's just about language and clarity, which I happen to value. Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks.

As for the bickering, I don't understand why people keep returning to threads that annoy them so much. I suppose there might be other things to read on MDC, hmm?

[lovingmommyhood]

Originally Posted by 2xy 

Well, I worked in an OB/GYN office for several years. I've talked to lots of women.

It's not over who can be more anatomically correct. It's not a contest. It's just about language and clarity, which I happen to value. Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks.

As for the bickering, I don't understand why people keep returning to threads that annoy them so much. I suppose there might be other things to read on MDC, hmm?

Ah yes, that old argument. I come back because i'm hungry! Well, that and I want to find out all of the latest nicknames for my vagina, labia, clitoris and anus...which, mission totally accomplished in this case. Thank you to whoever mentioned power bundle...I would look but i'm on my mobile device.

[2xy]

Gluttons for punishment get no sympathy from me. :)

[limabean]

Originally Posted by GoBecGo 

Can't read all the threads, should be doing a million non-surfing tasks!

DD1 called this her "little willy" in the shower one day.  I said, very shocked "NO! That's your clitoris!" and she was like "hmm, looks like a teeny willy" and i said "nope, WAY better, boys have to pee and make babies and feel good with their willies but a clitoris is ONLY for feeling good" and she twiddled it a bit and said "yeah, better than a willy!" then promptly pee'd on my feet (a WHOLE other story!).  She still calls it a little willy or a baby penis sometimes though.  I just correct her and do a quick recap.

It seems stupid now, but i was more anxious that she understood the greatness of it than embarrassed to explain it at the time.

That's cute.  I see that both of your kids are girls, so maybe it wouldn't occur to you, but as the mother of a boy and a girl, I'd hesitate to tell one that their genitals are better than the other's, you know? Just thought I'd mention it -- hope you don't mind. 

[JudiAU]

Originally Posted by katchie 

lol... yes!

Power bundle is awesome.

But yes we will say vulva. Vagina used incorrectly drives me crazy and weirdly it seems a bit dirtier. My own issues I am sure. Silly names are less annoying because at least they are merely cutesy rather than incorrect.

Here's to hoping dd has a healthier relationshipmto her body and sexuality than her mother.

[lovingmommyhood]

Tonight my barely three year old daughter fell down and she said "OW, my weenie!" This comes from having two older brothers (6 & 4) who think it's HILL-AIR-EOUS to say "Weenie" no matter how often they are corrected with the proper terminology. 

[leahsmama]

Originally Posted by lovingmommyhood 

Bickering over who can be more anatomically correct. It's getting old, and fast. Who are these someone's telling you they have a rash on their vagina?  If it were my daughter, I'd lay her down and look and I'd quickly realize by visualization, where this rash was. "vagina" just gets you in the right ball park.

Agreed. While, vagina is used incorrectly most of the time, in general conversation it doesn't really matter. If you really need to know EXACTLY where someone is talking about it's easy to ask a couple of questions to figure it out. I was taught the correct terms and will teach my daughter the same. But when I'm talking to most people I would say vagina because vulva confuses a lot of people.

A lot of "common usage" terms are incorrect. For example, it's not correct to say "a female dog", but that's what everyone says. Technically, a male and female canine are a dog and a bitch respectively. While I know the correct usage, I don't refer to my female canine as a bitch, I call her a female dog. But if I was talking to a dog breeder they would be confused if I said my dog had puppies, you know?

[SweetSilver]

This is a long thread, forgive me if I haven't read every post and if I repeat what someone else might have said.

"That knobby bit" in our house is her urethra, where she pees.  When she asked what a penis was for, I said "for peeing" and left it at that (she was 3 or so when this came up.)   

I, too, am curious about books on bodies for very young children.  

     We don't mince words at our house, but answer only what needs answering.  At the store she held up a plastic pig (Schleich brand, very anatomically correct), a boar with HUGE testicles.  She asked "is that his butt?" and I briefly considered my options, finally answering, "Those are his papa testicles".  Which is great and now my 6yo will unabashedly comment on various body parts on those toys (quite loudly, of course) and as I cringe and reassure myself I am doing the right thing.....

[GoBecGo]

Originally Posted by limabean 

That's cute.  I see that both of your kids are girls, so maybe it wouldn't occur to you, but as the mother of a boy and a girl, I'd hesitate to tell one that their genitals are better than the other's, you know? Just thought I'd mention it -- hope you don't mind. 

I do get what you mean, and i definitely don't mind you mentioning it, but i'm afraid i think clitorises ARE better than penises, and more amazing.  And i doubt that would change if i had a son.  If i did have a son and for some reason had him and a daughter in the shower together i wouldn't be running a genitalia contest or doing any kind of comparison, verbal or otherwise.  But in a world where the most disgusting swear word most people can think of is a word for the female genitals you bet i'm going to be telling my DD's how incredible that bit of equipment really is!

[Czarena]

Originally Posted by GoBecGo 

Can't read all the threads, should be doing a million non-surfing tasks!

DD1 called this her "little willy" in the shower one day.  I said, very shocked "NO! That's your clitoris!" and she was like "hmm, looks like a teeny willy" and i said "nope, WAY better, boys have to pee and make babies and feel good with their willies but a clitoris is ONLY for feeling good" and she twiddled it a bit and said "yeah, better than a willy!" then promptly pee'd on my feet (a WHOLE other story!).  She still calls it a little willy or a baby penis sometimes though.  I just correct her and do a quick recap.

It seems stupid now, but i was more anxious that she understood the greatness of it than embarrassed to explain it at the time.

FYI - The clitoris is made of the same type of tissue that a penis is. With stimulation it gets bigger and firmer and many speculate can shoot fluid as well. Your daughter is actually VERY correct in nick naming it her "little willy" :)

[MissMaegie'sMama]

Guess I've been living in a cave or something, because IRL I have NEVER heard anyone refer to the non-vaginal parts of her outer female anatomy as her "vagina." At the very least, I would expect a woman to know the difference between her clitoris and vagina. I mean, geez. If I'm in bed with my DH and want him to touch my clitoris, I sure as heck don't ask him to touch my vagina... 

[GoBecGo]

Originally Posted by Czarena 

FYI - The clitoris is made of the same type of tissue that a penis is. With stimulation it gets bigger and firmer and many speculate can shoot fluid as well. Your daughter is actually VERY correct in nick naming it her "little willy" :)

Actually FYI the reverse is true.  The clitoris develops into a penis in the womb in boys.  The penis is actually a big clitoris, not the other way around.
 

[Polliwog]

Originally Posted by leahsmama 

A lot of "common usage" terms are incorrect. For example, it's not correct to say "a female dog", but that's what everyone says. Technically, a male and female canine are a dog and a bitch respectively. While I know the correct usage, I don't refer to my female canine as a bitch, I call her a female dog. But if I was talking to a dog breeder they would be confused if I said my dog had puppies, you know?

Honestly, if your dog breeder was confused, you should really find a new breeder. That's just ridiculous.

[kawa kamuri]

Originally Posted by SweetSilver 
At the store she held up a plastic pig (Schleich brand, very anatomically correct), a boar with HUGE testicles.  She asked "is that his butt?" and I briefly considered my options, finally answering, "Those are his papa testicles".  Which is great and now my 6yo will unabashedly comment on various body parts on those toys (quite loudly, of course) and as I cringe and reassure myself I am doing the right thing.....

We have a ton of these animals and my gosh, my kids are fascinated with their nipples and testicles. 

[Czarena]

Originally Posted by GoBecGo 

Actually FYI the reverse is true.  The clitoris develops into a penis in the womb in boys.  The penis is actually a big clitoris, not the other way around.
 

eh I don't see the difference. clitoris tissue and penis tissue are the same. I see your point that they are both initially a clitoris - one stops there and another keeps going. But I don't see that it's wrong to say that It's equally true that penises are big clitorises and clitorises are little penises. Is there any clarification you can offer to help me understand why both can't be true?

[liliaceae]

Originally Posted by SweetSilver 

This is a long thread, forgive me if I haven't read every post and if I repeat what someone else might have said.

"That knobby bit" in our house is her urethra, where she pees.  When she asked what a penis was for, I said "for peeing" and left it at that (she was 3 or so when this came up.)   

I, too, am curious about books on bodies for very young children.  

     We don't mince words at our house, but answer only what needs answering.  At the store she held up a plastic pig (Schleich brand, very anatomically correct), a boar with HUGE testicles.  She asked "is that his butt?" and I briefly considered my options, finally answering, "Those are his papa testicles".  Which is great and now my 6yo will unabashedly comment on various body parts on those toys (quite loudly, of course) and as I cringe and reassure myself I am doing the right thing.....

Wait, are you saying you've taught your daughter that urine comes out of her clitoris?

[sunnygir1]

Originally Posted by liliaceae 

Originally Posted by SweetSilver 

This is a long thread, forgive me if I haven't read every post and if I repeat what someone else might have said.

"That knobby bit" in our house is her urethra, where she pees.  When she asked what a penis was for, I said "for peeing" and left it at that (she was 3 or so when this came up.)   

I, too, am curious about books on bodies for very young children.  

     We don't mince words at our house, but answer only what needs answering.  At the store she held up a plastic pig (Schleich brand, very anatomically correct), a boar with HUGE testicles.  She asked "is that his butt?" and I briefly considered my options, finally answering, "Those are his papa testicles".  Which is great and now my 6yo will unabashedly comment on various body parts on those toys (quite loudly, of course) and as I cringe and reassure myself I am doing the right thing.....

Wait, are you saying you've taught your daughter that urine comes out of her clitoris?

Yeah, that's what I was wondering.  I mean, the urethra is completely separate from the clitoris, and not in the same location.