It is self-stimulating the genitals for the purpose of sexual pleasure. In fact, some children start playing with their genitals during infancy. Sometimes this starts as a primitive instinct, sometimes when he is a year or two old, he recognizes his body and also recognizes his genitals and wants to repeat it, realizing that he gets pleasure when he warns him. Although it is considered as a part of development, attention should be paid, necessary guidance should be made and precautions should be taken. It should be remembered that there is a problem, especially if he often prefers it to other activities.
Reasons for Masturbation
• Being left alone for too long in infancy
• Trying to fill the lack of arousal by self-stimulation in children who have not been breastfed or breastfed (self-vomiting can also be attributed to lack of arousal) )
• Birth of a new sibling or situations that make the child uneasy, unhappy and anxious in the family,
• Touching and itching create pleasure in the child as a result of intestinal worms and worms itching in and around the anus,
• Lack of interest,
• Dressing the child in very tight trousers with front pockets
• Leaving the child alone in tight dark, secret places for a long time,
• Getting the child used to this behavior by a familiar friend or adult,
• During the cleaning process, starting from infancy, the child is left alone for a long time. Playing with your genitals more than necessary, wasting time, frequent kissing, caressing, etc. situations.
The reaction of parents and other adults to masturbation is very important. Because the child will receive messages from these reactions. Intimidation does not eliminate the behavior. As a result, the child thinks that he has done something bad, disgusting and may feel guilty.
What Can Be Done to Prevent?
• The child should be directed to social activities that he will enjoy at home or at school, as well as feel valuable and happy. It should not be left unsupervised for a long time alone.
• Children should be informed about sexual issues at all ages and their questions should not be left unanswered. (Questions should not be left unanswered with age-appropriate answers)
• The child should be directed to activities that will tire him out, provided that they are not physically excessive.
• He should be taken out of bed because he wakes up, he should go to bed in the same way in the evening, and should not be left alone in the dark in his bed.
• Appropriate toilet and cleaning habits should be given
• Necessary precautions should be taken for itching and parasites
*** when the behavior occurs, the child should be carefully observed and the cause of the problem should be determined. With appropriate measures for the cause, the problem can be eliminated more easily and quickly.
*** masturbating child should not be frightened, should not be told that he will lose his genitals, physical punishment should not be given.
