ANIMAL THUMB UP AND DOWN DRAWING HOW TO
ANIMAL THUMB UP AND DOWN DRAWING FREE

If you see this occurs when he is feeling a certain way, you may want to help him name his emotion and see what other sorts of activities can help him relax – like drawing, running around, or maybe just lying down with the lights off. You may still need to gently remind him about when it’s appropriate to touch himself, and redirect him to a more appropriate behavior when he’s in a public area (like, if you’re out grocery shopping, or even when you’re just in the living room).

ANIMAL THUMB UP AND DOWN DRAWING FREE

Includes free printable conversation cards.

ANIMAL THUMB UP AND DOWN DRAWING HOW TO

Teach Kids About Consent (Moments a Day): Article that discusses the importance of why parents should start talking to your kids about consent from a young age, and gives tips on how to start this conversation.Ten Things To Remember When You Talk To Kids About Sexuality.Why Healthy Sexuality Education is an Important Part of a Safety Plan.I’ve included some additional helpful resources below: You may be doing this in your home already, and if so, I encourage you to keep it up. This helps him grow up with good information around privacy, respect, and appropriate behavior – something we call safety planning. Take the time to talk to him about healthy touch too – to ensure that he understands how to play safely, and so he knows what to expect from other people as well. When you’re giving him a bath, ask before you wash his genitals to model consent, and remind him what his body parts are called. Keep the conversation going and use teachable moments to talk to him about safety. This can also be part of a bigger conversation around body rules, which would include giving him accurate names for his genitals. It’s alright if you forget sometimes, because I’m here to remind you, okay?” You may even want to let your son know that “Teddy” needs to stay in his bedroom, to reinforce his understanding about what appropriate behavior looks like. A private activity means something we do alone – like when you see me close the door to the bathroom, you know I want privacy. When you want to rub your genitals on Teddy, you can go in your room and close the door. It may feel good to rub your penis on Teddy, and that’s fine, but this is something that is done in private. You can say something like, “I see that you enjoy rubbing yourself on your stuffed animal. You’re also correct that although this is normal and healthy, it still deserves a discussion around when and where this activity is appropriate.Īlthough I wouldn’t take away his favorite toy, it may be helpful to have a conversation with him – not to shame him – but rather to redirect his behavior. It sounds like what your son is doing is age-appropriate, and at 3 years-old this behavior is what we call ‘self-soothing behavior’ – similar to thumb sucking or, as you said, rubbing a blanket. It can be uncomfortable for any parent to watch their child discover that it feels good to rub their genitals, and I’m so glad you’ve reached out to us with your questions.

Animal thumb up and down drawing