[mommyneedshelp]

So, Recently my oldest daughter (7) has told her therapist that my niece (8) has touched her private parts. My daughter also said that my niece had showed her her private parts. I know that part is true because I have walked in on my niece doing this several times. Well, I had a talk with my niece and also with my daughter at two different times and told them both that that behavior wasn't appropriate. Well, I got a phone call from my daughter's school. My youngest daughter (5) had a lesson about bad touch and good touch. She told the nurse that her sister has touched her in her private area. I don't know what I should do? They are already in counseling because their grandfather's death affected them.

[massplumber2008]

Hi Mom...

AT 5, 7, and 8 I'm quite confident that this is a simple curiosity that all kids go through. Not to make light of this in any way, but heck, if you think this is a concern, just wait until the boys start to get curious about them, too... ;)

In my opinion, you want to talk to the kids, you want the children to talk to the therapist a bit and you want to keep an extra good eye on the little ones for awhile, but I think the worst thing you could do here would be to make a big deal of this with the kids. Here, if you make too big a deal it could stick with them in a negative manner and perhaps (never know), that could lead to unwanted behaviors as they get older.

For what it is worth, here is what I told my daughter about anyone touching her privates. I said (basically), " No one except the doctor and your Mommy can touch your private areas, and to be real clear here sweety, NOT EVEN DADDY has a reason to touch your privates...just so you know that, OK?" I said that to my 8 year old daughter and you know, she was crystal clear on this fact the rest of her life... :)

Chalk this all up to curiosity and just thank God that this wasn't a 17 year old family member touching the little ones... thank GOD!

That's my thoughts! Good luck with the little ones... great, fun ages, for sure!

Mark