3 y/o DS is ALL about this!!! and i guess it is normal. but how do i limit it? i dont want him to think it is a bad thing.... or that i am mad at him when he does it. but i just want him to learn that it is a private thing that he should only do when he is alone.

i have been telling him that it is ok to touch his penis, but that if he wants to do it he has to do it in his room or the bathroom b/c mommy doesnt want to see it.

but for the most part he just looks at me like, "whatever mom?" and keeps right on doing it... until i press the issue at which point he just stops touching it.

i dont want him to think that i am mad or that it is a bad thing. how do i get him to realize that he has to do it in his room and stop whipping it out in the living rooom around mommy and daddy and sister... and potentially friends or at other people's houses???

My ds went through this.  I would just say "Hands up"  That worked for a week or so.  Then I got sick of seeing it so I said "It's rude to play with your pee-pee in front of people.  If you are going to touch it or look at it go to your room alone"  After 10 seconds of being in his room he realized it wasn't much fun (At least for now, I'm sure that will change in 10 years).  That phase only lasted a week or so.  G/L I know how annoying it can be! 

My DS does it too.  I just say, "Please don't play with your pee in front of mommy."  And he stops...until the next time!

 My 13 year old did this when he was a toddler and it never bothered me so I never said anything to him. As it was during summer time and he ran around naked a lot of the time, I guess I just figured he was discovering a new bit of his body and just left him to it. It didn't last long at all and it never became a problem. 

My 3 year old son started doing the same thing about a month ago, but again, it's summertime and he has only just been potty-trained. When the nappies/diapers first came off, it was constant!  However, it really didn't disturb me in any way so I never said anything to him. Now, a month later, he rarely pays any attention to that area unless he needs to use the potty. When he starts fiddling, it gives me a good indication that he needs to go!

Sweet-Tart:

I would just say "Hands up"  That worked for a week or so.  Then I got sick of seeing it so I said "It's rude to play with your pee-pee in front of people.  If you are going to touch it or look at it go to your room alone" 

 

LMAO that's exactly what I did....except I said hands where I can see 'em! Lol.

Sorry Oab&G....but now that he's found his best friend for life it's a losing battle for us women.

My 3 y/o has been doing it alot too!  He only does it in the bath tub and I just tell him to stop b/c my 1 y/o is watching him and wants to touch ds3.  So when I tell him to stop he listens but I know it's just a phase and it will pass.

I would just say "Please stop" everytime I saw him do it. but not in a mean voice. He needed allot of reminding but he grew out of that stage in a couple of months.

tashy:

Now, a month later, he rarely pays any attention to that area unless he needs to use the potty.

thats the thing ... it is ALL THE TIME... even when he is fully clothed he will whip it out! i first wrote this post about a month ago... and he was doing this behavior weeks before that!

personally it doesnt bother me... i could care less about a little ween in the afternoon LOL... but i am just worried he will start taking it out when we are around other people or out in public (he has done this . then i can imagine people will start to think i am a bad mom or something?

i have been telling him that it is his penis and he can touch it if he wants to ... but that he has to go up to his room because it is rude to flash other people. usually when i say this he shoves it back under his waist band and will leave it alone for 5-10 minutes before going at it again. actually more recently i have just noticed he will stick his hand down his pants rather than bring the whole thing out LOL!!! maybe that is progress????? LOL?????

I just tell them "get your hands out of your pants" and they usually do.  I tell them it's ok to explore touching all body parts but it's only ok in private because it's not polite to do it around others.  For the most part they listen.  They really don't touch themselves too much so I can't say this is a big problem.  I guess if they did it a lot I would treat it like anything else they should do in public or around others.  Like my younger son loves to pick his nose.  It is annoying as all get out.  I always tell him to stop doing that and use a tissue.  When he doesn't listen he gets in trouble...LOL  Not that I think you should ground him or anything but maybe tell him how sad it makes you that he doesn't listen to you and that you said it was ok to do it in private but to please listen to you when you say to stop doing it in front of others.  So make it about you being sad with him and maybe he will start to listen??

when you come up with something, wives all around the world need know.  If a 3yr old can get, then there's hope for our DH's?

My son is 20 now.  When he was little he was always fiddling with his doodle.  I used to say (also!) it was ok to do that but not infront of anyone!  To go and do it in his room.  To cut a long story short, I get on really well with my future daughter in law and according to her dear son has a wee problem with still fiddling with his doodle!  Did I inadvertantly create a monster by being so accepting of his fiddling?  Should I have been more concerned when he was little?  I remember thinking at the time that I didnt want him to grow up with any hangups or not be confident.  Well he grew up with a hangup alright!

oneadorableboy&girl:

thats the thing ... it is ALL THE TIME... even when he is fully clothed he will whip it out!

DS has been fiddling since he was very little. We have had the talk (ie it is ok in your bedroom, bathroom, toilet etc but not in public etc) and then every time I caught him doing it I would tell him to put his hands on his head. If he was at home he would have to stand in the bathroom for two minutes with his hands on his head and if we were out in public I would just say hands on head and he would know why. I know that most kids 'fiddle' from time to time but others (like my DS) do it constantly and often without even thinking. It has worked and I rarely catch him 'fiddling' anymore. We were given this advice by a professional if that helps any. At three years it is not that much of an issue but as they get older it becomes socially unacceptable so I understand your concerns.

Sweet-Tart:

My ds went through this.  I would just say "Hands up"  That worked for a week or so.  Then I got sick of seeing it so I said "It's rude to play with your pee-pee in front of people.  If you are going to touch it or look at it go to your room alone"  After 10 seconds of being in his room he realized it wasn't much fun (At least for now, I'm sure that will change in 10 years).  That phase only lasted a week or so.  G/L I know how annoying it can be! 

LMAO, Thats just funny.