A 24-year-old female asked:
My five year old daughter touched another little girls private area is this a sign of molestation? should i be worried?
3 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Andrew Malinchakanswered
Family Medicine 31 years experience
Genital touching: No and no. This is normal exploration at that age.
4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Igor Stavitskyanswered
Pediatrics 38 years experience
It is normal: This is the age when children's sexual curiosity arises. It is completely normal and benign. Children should be discouraged from it but not punished.
4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. James Fergusonanswered
Pediatrics 47 years experience
Time for discussion: We consider peer sexual exploration to be normal when it involves another kid within 2 years of their age.If it is beyond that threshold it enters a gray area of potential sexual exploitation.A simple open question to her of what this means to her would be in order. We try not to shame kids for normal behavior but the discussion can be neutral.
1.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 24-year-old female asked:
My 5 year old touched another little girls private part should I be worried?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Andrew Malinchakanswered
Family Medicine 31 years experience
Touching of privates: No, you should not be worried at this age, as this is just normal childhood curiosity. It would need to be STRONGLY discouraged should it. By the way, you don't indicate the sex of your child, but I'm going to assume it is a boy.
4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. James Ferguson commented
Pediatrics 47 years experience
Contact between kids about the same age (within 2 years) is considered youthful exploration. Any greater age difference suggests a more predatory action.
Jun 9, 2014
Last updated Jul 2, 2016
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