How can I stop my 3 year old?

Is he causing a rash? Is he doing it at inappropriate places or times?

A lot of Child Development Professionals agree that masturbation and/or exploration of our genitals can start at an early age. The problem is Adults are looking at it from a mature perspective and thinking the worst.

To the child, it just feels good, like picking his nose, blowing bubbles, playing in a puddle, pulling on the dog's ears, being bounced on a knee. They do not look at it as a sexual act.

The usual recommendation is to distract to stop the behavior. Do not shame. Do not punish.

When the child is getting ready for pre-school, you can start teaching him where and when it is appropriate to do such things. That it's OK only for him to do that to himself, and only when (choose your rules).

The important thing is not let him feel "bad", "disgusting", or "broken" in some way because he is doing something natural.

Having said that, there ARE some rare issues to consider that are outside the realm of normal child development. The first one people jump to is "Molestation". This behavior does not automatically mean the child was molested.

The second issue that pops up has to do with repetitive stimulation being one factor in certain developmental disorders. Although that type of stimulation is usually in the form of watching his hands and fingers waving, shaking and clicking.

So, the best bet would be to mention this on your next Doctor visit.

• If there is a rash due to the touching,address that.
• If there are any fears of Molestation, no matter how remote they might be, address it.
• And, if you think your child might have a developmental issue, ask for a PDD assessment to see if your child may have a Pervasive Development Disorder, (PDD), which includes Autism, Asperger, etc.

This advice is my non-medical opinion, of course, I encourage you to do the research yourself and come up with your own conclusion, and, by all means, consult with medical professionals.