Ah, the moment your little one first becomes aware of their hands…
“Wow, I have hands! Look at them—aren’t they amazing? I could watch them all day! Did you know they fit in my mouth?!”
Absolutely adorable.
Then comes the revelation when kids realize they have a penis or a vagina.
“Check out my penis! It can get bigger too!”
Not quite as cute, but undeniably hilarious.
My kids have had a real awakening—not in the literary sense, but a true eye-opener to their bodies. They now know they have genitalia, will soon develop breasts, experience periods, and might even have hair “down there.” It’s reminiscent of that classic scene from Kindergarten Cop where the boy proudly declares that boys have a penis and girls have a vagina. Check, check, and double-check.
Let’s also note their unabashed comfort with nudity—often at the most inappropriate times. My son wanders around in just a shirt, reminiscent of Donald Sutherland’s character in Animal House, blissfully unaware of his missing underwear, or worse, wearing it on his head or inside out, flaunting a makeshift thong look.
He’s fascinated with his anatomy, showcasing it like a prized possession. “What’s this?” he asks as he drops his pants to show friends, or performs his infamous butt dance, which always gets a laugh, especially at family dinners or among larger crowds.
His playful antics with his penis have evolved from innocent discovery to “penis tricks” or claiming it as a sword. “Stop playing with your penis! It’s not a toy!” I call out, only to be met with a cheeky grin that seems to say, “Oh, lady, this is just the beginning.”
Meanwhile, my daughter, Lily, is on her own journey of discovery. She’s learned that girls have breasts, or as she calls them, “breastees.” They appear in all her drawings of friends and family, and I must admit, I felt quite flattered when I saw her depiction of me with a curvy figure. It was a noticeable upgrade from my usual training bra status! She’s even worried about her Halloween costume. “What if nobody knows I’m Wonder Woman without breasts? I could stuff socks in my shirt!”
Just the other day at Target, she ran ahead and proudly announced to a stranger in the feminine products aisle that she’d use those when she’s older—like at the age of eight! The green ones are the best, she claimed. Sweet Jesus… they’re not candies!
Lily is also thinking ahead about shaving, concerned about “fur,” and wants to pluck her brother’s eyebrows. The curiosity about body hair is endless.
And then there’s “Naked Time,” which seems to be an all-day affair. It could be sub-zero outside, and the kids are still ready to strip for an impromptu dance party. They’ve coined this term long before they could even talk, and they love to disrobe in front of anyone, even at gatherings.
It’s challenging not to chuckle at their innocent inquiries and antics surrounding all things anatomical. While this curiosity is completely natural, guiding them through appropriate social behavior can be tricky. You want to answer their questions without shaming them, but you also don’t want them shouting about future periods in public. Right now, Lily associates breasts solely with women, but there’s so much more to unpack in the future.
They’re simply trying to make sense of their world. It’s our job to teach them the social norms while keeping a straight face. Stripping at a family event? Probably not the best plan. These are all invaluable life lessons, regardless of age.
If you’re interested in more insights about understanding children’s anatomical curiosities, check out this informative piece on body awareness. For those looking to explore at-home insemination methods, Make A Mom offers reputable syringe kits that can be helpful. And for an excellent overview of the IVF process, this resource on pregnancy is a must-read.
Summary
Children’s curiosity about their bodies is a natural and humorous journey of discovery. As parents, we navigate these explorations with both laughter and guidance, teaching them the norms of society while allowing them to understand their own anatomy.
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