"Mommy, why do boys have a penis?": when my 6-year-old asked that "dreadful" question

“Mommy, why do boys have a penis?” asked my six-year-old girl when I was getting her ready for school last week. And before I could reply, she dropped another bomb: “What do you call the private part of a girl?”

Needless to say, I was not expecting it. At first, I didn’t know what to say. To dodge it I gently asked her if someone in school asked her the question.

She started telling me that she wonders why girls and boys used different toilets and why is it that boys stand and pee? She then said that she read about it in a book on the human body in her library.

Now before I get to the point, let me also tell you that my six-year-old is an avid reader. Even books that don’t have pictures and are not meant for her age. So she had indeed read it in her library book as she says.

“A girl’s private part is called a vagina”

But, the seriousness of her tonality suggested that it was a very, very important topic for her and one that had to be handled with maturity. So I decided that I will not use funny names to explain her about the penis and vagina as it would only confuse her.

“Boys have a penis because they have been created like that by God.” I told her.

“So what do you call a girl’s private part?” she asked cutting me short. “It’s a vagina but remember that they are private parts and no one is allowed to touch them, irrespective of whether you’re a boy or a girl.”

While I sure managed to stop the questions and somehow figured that she was satisfied with that answer, many of you mums would not agree with the approach I took. And there’s nothing wrong in that.

Points to be noted…

However, When it comes to talking about penis and vagina it should never be labeled as something that is inappropriate. Simply because it gives them the wrong message. It also makes them believe that it is something that is embarrassing. Here are a few points to keep in mind:

• They’re curious: Just remember that the questions your kids have in mind are arousing out of curiosity about the human body parts and telling them what they are would only clear their doubts.
• Don’t be embarrassed: The more clear they are about that from the beginning, the better it is for their sexual health. Moreover, how would kids report about any kind of sexual abuse until they’re not sure of what is it? If they find that their own parent is hesitant, chances are they will never ask you such questions again!
• Be cautious: Parents must also understand that you must remember to also tell them that it’s their private part and must not be messed with. Also, explain them about good touch and bad touch so that they know when to be careful.
• Keep it short and simple: We all know that kids have a really short concentration span and giving them long speeches would not only bore them to death. There is also a high chance that they’ve lost your attention even before you got to the point.
• Know how much she knows: It’s also important for parents to understand how much their child already knows about the topic. If you feel that your child would be comfortable discussing it in detail, go ahead. That’s your call as a parent.

Lastly, I’d say that questions like these shouldn’t be avoided. Your child might just stop coming to you whenever she wants answers to her numerous queries. And, as a parent, this is the last thing you would want to happen, right?

Republished with permission from: The Indus Parent

ALSO READ: 5 tips on how to deal with a child who loves to ask questions