Is it normal for a child to touch themselves?

Question

I was babysitting this little girl and she was playing in her room. She's 7. I went to check up on her and she was... Doing some stuff to herself down there. I was pretty worried because I wondered if it was a sign of sexual assault. I asked a friend what I should do and she said sometimes children can get curious down there and it doesn't mean that they were touched. She said she masturbated from a young age and she wasn't molested. She just got curious about everything going on down there and started exploring. Should I be worried or is this normal?

Answer

Children around that age are curious so don’t be toooooooo alarmed but definitely speak to her mother and let her know what you had seen her do.

Answer

Normal. I was a preschool teacher and we would had several kids every year who were chronic masturbators at nap time 🙄

Answer

i would talk to her parents to make sure everything is alright. possibly the mom alone if you can (not that if there was something going on, it COULDNT be her). you’re doing good by looking out for her. your friend is right, sometimes kids are curious. it’s always a good idea to check in though

Answer

I've read that it's normal for them to explore down there and that it's typically only a sign of abuse if they're actually penetrating themselves with something.

Answer

Little kids are totally oblivious to it being taboo and just get curious. I once babysat a little girl who was going through a “humping” phase and it totally freaked me out but yeah...sometimes they just do that.

Answer

I'm a Psychology major and though I'm still early in my studies I have read that this is considered normal behavior.

Answer

Normal , I recall myself around that age when I found that it felt "good" but it was by accident that I did it and continued doing it bc it felt good. Also my little brother when he was around 5 started touching doing it bc he found it interesting to touch his "private parts " . Pediatricians say it's normal for them to discover these parts and at some point they get curious .

Answer

All part of the normal development process to explore themselves. 
1. Her parents/care givers must know about it since she knows that you do private things behind private doors. 
2. Children explore themselves at various stages of their development. 
3. Making a big deal of her touching herself doesn’t do any good really except teach her to be secretive; it sounds to me like something where you invaded a personal time of hers within the boundaries set forth in her home
Without even knowing about it and were blindsided by the behavior. 
The questions surrounding this to rule out unnecessary worry become: 
A- is little girl doing anything other than exploring herself, I mean is she talking about someone else exploring her while she is doing it herself? 
B- if you’ve seen enough to see her exploring herself, are there any signs of abuse (bruising, cuts etc.) 
C- is she having accidents 
Simply exploring herself isn’t enough to insist she’s being neglected or abused but it’s also a double edged sword. 
Maybe you sit down with her and tell her that you are sorry for walking in on her and she can tell you anything she needs to. Create a safe place for her, don’t make a big deal without knowing the more of the facts first. You very well could be the only safe person for her to disclose to or ask questions later.

Answer

Normal.

Answer

It’s normal

Is it normal for a child to touch themselves?

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