So I've read that you're supposed to teach your kids the correct names of genitalia, so that they won't get the message that you're embarassed about it. The question is, how then, do you teach them to be appropriate about it? I've used kind of cutesy made up names for those body parts, so I went ahead and started using the correct terminology.

My daughter has been saying, "Here's my VULVA!" I don't mind that so much at home, but that could get a little awkward in public, kwim? [rofl]

Oh my goodness, Ruth, that's so funny! [rotfl] We just taught cutsie names. They learned the real names later on. We never acted embarrassed by the real terminologies, so I'm sure they never received that message. It just made it easier to talk about those things when the kids hadn't yet learned what was appropriate conversation in public and what wasn't. The girls still use the cutsie words. It *is* cute. hehe!

All of this to say, I have no idea how to teach a young child what's appropriate to say in public and what isn't without there being the real possibility (or likelihood) of public misuse. There will be a training period, I'm sure. :-D

Blessings!

[lovingsmiley]

Joy [welcomewave]

We use proper terms at our house. We have right from the start. For us, it hasn't really been an issue... in 5.5 years we've only had one or two times where it came up in 'public' and that was with either dh's or my immediate family. We've just taught them that we don't discuss our private parts with other people. It isn't polite conversation. HTH

Thanks Kim, that helps a lot! [thumbsup]

We've used proper names from the start. Only had touble with the youngest- for a while he would say my penis hurts when he was potty training instead of I have to go to the bathroom. Just par for the coarse for life with kiddos.

We tend to use proper names here too. But we do also say pee-pee for penis. Since we just have boys, we haven't gotten to the names for girl parts, except for breasts--when I was nursing our youngest the oldest was curious. Although after seeing a picture of brother's newborn daughter being weighed, our son asked where her pee-pee was...I told him she didn't have one, that boys and girls were made different. All he said was "oh" and was satisfied.

Not to hijack, but my husband did have to teach our almost 6 year old testicles this weekend. We heard him say something about 'nuts' and come to find out a boy in his class has older brothers and they talk about them. After my husband explained what they meant he asked if he would say it again and he said, "No, that is yucky!"

We use cutesy names here. I think the issue though is not what word you use but that it's being said in public. We just keep telling the girls firmly that it's not appropriate and that we don't talk that way.

I think we went kind of cutesy, too. :-D

We use proper terms, too, and just remind them that we don't talk about private parts in public bec modesty is part of how we show God we respect the body He gave us.

We have gone cutesy and it'll stay that way LOL!..... .... I think we'll stay like that when the next child is here....

Paloma.

We use proper names. I do use the general term vagina for most vaginal area stuff just because I feel it would be a bit confusing for Em to know all the parts, but I would tell her a specific name if she asked particularly.
Em has said "my vagina hurts" out in public if her pants ride up, but it doesn't embarass me....someone either has a vagina or penis...thats reality. We do tell her what is polite to talk about in public and if she has to talk about private areas that she does it with a lower voice, but she is 4 so we give her a bit of slack!

We are very open with our kids. Now my girls do not see Daddy change or naked...we feel it's not appropriate, but they see me change and naked. Em watched Mak come out and she was in the bathroom with me pretty much all the time after Mak was born so she knows Mommies bleed from their vagina...but it's very surface right now and she is fine with that.

Blessings,
Amber