Names for body parts.

[MG]

My oldest daughter (now 9) knew in detail by the age of 3 the proper terms for her girl parts. She called it bagina but close enough. I am a firm believer that if they are old enough to ask then they need to know the truth. Openess and honesty is the best policy with my girls. I can't imagine them finding out from someone else and then they come to me and say, "Why didn't you tell me???".

 

[IslandBreeze]

Okay..I've changed my mind. After hearing a 4- yr. old use the word "Va..." it really disturbed me. I change my vote to polite euphemisms. They can be proper when they're a little older.

 

[stargazer]

I think teaching the real name for them at this age may lead to some embarrasing moments.....like when they decide to blurt it out in church or in front of the in-laws. Or to a neighbor..."guess what I have?" I would use "private area" for now. But I do think it depends on the child. If your child wouldn't do that, then teach them what you think is best...what they can deal with at the age.

 

[The Midge]

"Louise" of all names seems to have stuck as far as my son is concerned. We will probably try to use euphamisms while informing them of the correst names as soon as they are old enough. If we can figure out when that is.

Thanks for all the suggestions... more are welcome.

 

[dreamcatcher]

my wife and I call them "privates" or "private parts".

 

[imasharp]

My guys are going to be 7&8 in August. They know the real names. We did and still do call theirs a bird. They just say that a baby comes out a womans hole. Even though they do know what the real names are.

 

[Jaxie]

I have always used the correct terms with my children since the day they asked. It is just my opinion that if you give it a little nickname, it is in a way sending a message that those parts are something to be ashamed of, and I never want my child to feel that way. (Kind of reminds me of Adam and Eve).

I think the majority of parents who do have a problem with using the correct terms were in fact first told little nicknames for parts, by their parents. It's just a theory, but one I don't doubt.

 

[Jet Black]

proper names I reckon, But children will pick anything up very easily. I recall a story of when I was a baby, and whenever I filled my nappy and dad cleaned it, he always seemed to get the ones with the poo in it so he said to mum "oh look, I have got a bonus".... amazingly I picked up on this, and for ages I used to call poos "bonuses". It wasn't something intentional at all on the part of my parents, as they never said it to me directly, but there you go.

 

[kingzjewel]

lol @ bonus!!! what a bonus ha ha anyway my hubby has a hard time saying the real names and i just gave up on it so our son will be learning that he and daddy have a pee pee and mommy has a poom poom. go figure! i will make sure to teach him the correct terms before he learns them in school though.

 

[psycmajor]

When I was little, I used to think genitalia were called "kidneys." :o :o