What are the appropriate terms for private parts when talking to young kids?

A lot of parents seem to call it a "pee-pee" or "wee-wee" when referring to the "penis" or the "vagina". I never understood why that is. Why don't they just call them by the correct terminology? I mean penis and vagina aren't "bad words", so why are there so many silly colloquialisms for those body parts when talking to children.

Because children have a tendency to repeat everything they hear, preferably at the top of their lungs in public spaces, and given the way everybody is so paranoid today you can be sure there'd be some loon in the crowd thinking if little kids know those words, then their parents must be doing something bad with them. Personally though I don't see any problem with teaching them the terms 'privates' or 'genitals'.

My folks showed me Kindergarten Cop at a young age.

Supernova wrote:Because children have a tendency to repeat everything they hear, preferably at the top of their lungs in public spaces, and given the way everybody is so paranoid today you can be sure there'd be some loon in the crowd thinking if little kids know those words, then their parents must be doing something bad with them. Personally though I don't see any problem with teaching them the terms 'privates' or 'genitals'.

Another example of just how sad our society has become if this is what motivates parents to teach their kids he way that they do. I honestly wonder sometimes if your society is indeed more "perverted" than "paranoid"?

Penis & vagina. It's what they are.

CeCe wrote:Penis & vagina. It's what they are.

I agree. But I wonder just what percentage of parents actually utilize that logic. I suppose every parent is of a different mentality when it comes to the appropriateness of terms associate with body parts.

My friend Adam has 3 boys (9 year old twins and a 6 year old). His language doesn't alter between talking to them and talking to his peers. He is not above ordering them to make sure they wash their "cock & balls" in the shower, or yelling at them "stop playing with your dick", if they are touching themselves too much, lol. Basically, for him there is no difference in terminology as far as he's concerned and everyone pretty much accepts that about him, lol.

captainbryce wrote:I agree. But I wonder just what percentage of parents actually utilize that logic. I suppose every parent is of a different mentality when it comes to the appropriateness of terms associate with body parts.

My friend Adam has 3 boys (9 year old twins and a 6 year old). His language doesn't alter between talking to them and talking to his peers. He is not above ordering them to make sure they wash their "cock & balls" in the shower, or yelling at them "stop playing with your dick", if they are touching themselves too much, lol. Basically, for him there is no difference in terminology as far as he's concerned and everyone pretty much accepts that about him, lol.

I can't speak for other countries but American culture has some really significant hangups about these things. There's a simultaneous obsession & fear of anything connected to sexuality.

Well correct terms are fine, but you gotta admit it is pretty funny to hear a little kid discuss a bagina!

captainbryce wrote:I agree. But I wonder just what percentage of parents actually utilize that logic. I suppose every parent is of a different mentality when it comes to the appropriateness of terms associate with body parts.

My friend Adam has 3 boys (9 year old twins and a 6 year old). His language doesn't alter between talking to them and talking to his peers. He is not above ordering them to make sure they wash their "cock & balls" in the shower, or yelling at them "stop playing with your dick", if they are touching themselves too much, lol. Basically, for him there is no difference in terminology as far as he's concerned and everyone pretty much accepts that about him, lol.

The thing is, no one in casual conversation call private parts penis or vagina, so why be clinical with kids? Of course, you tell them the correct names, but personally, I like your friend's style. I would have never told my son, "go wash your penis and scrotum". Who talks like that?

I'm not sure where it came from, but my daughter has been referring to it as her 'hoo-haw' since she was very little. Since it was more silly than obscene, we let it go. My wife and I refer to my son's penis as his pistol, because it definitely shoots (like father, like son! .) I'm not sure what language we'll use once he starts talking.

Chris wrote:I'm not sure where it came from, but my daughter has been referring to it as her 'hoo-haw' since she was very little. Since it was more silly than obscene, we let it go. My wife and I refer to my son's penis as his pistol, because it definitely shoots (like father, like son! .) I'm not sure what language we'll use once he starts talking.

Has he shot anyone's eye out yet? That's the first thing someone needs to learn when changing a male baby's diaper. Approach with caution!

Alan Smithee wrote:

Chris wrote:I'm not sure where it came from, but my daughter has been referring to it as her 'hoo-haw' since she was very little. Since it was more silly than obscene, we let it go. My wife and I refer to my son's penis as his pistol, because it definitely shoots (like father, like son! .) I'm not sure what language we'll use once he starts talking.

Has he shot anyone's eye out yet? That's the first thing someone needs to learn when changing a male baby's diaper. Approach with caution!

Let's just say he knows how to hit a target! My hands and face have been sprayed more than once by it.

Chris wrote:

Let's just say he knows how to hit a target! My hands and face have been sprayed more than once by it.

More than once? What, you keep forgetting he's like a little fire hydrant every time you change him? You have to use that diaper as a shield!

The medical terms are fine, but pee pee and wee wee are easier for children to say. Damn, can't children have just some childlike innocence anymore? They'll learn the proper terms of their reproductive organs soon enough.

Chris wrote:

Let's just say he knows how to hit a target! My hands and face have been sprayed more than once by it.

captainbryce wrote:I agree. But I wonder just what percentage of parents actually utilize that logic. I suppose every parent is of a different mentality when it comes to the appropriateness of terms associate with body parts.

My friend Adam has 3 boys (9 year old twins and a 6 year old). His language doesn't alter between talking to them and talking to his peers. He is not above ordering them to make sure they wash their "cock & balls" in the shower, or yelling at them "stop playing with your dick", if they are touching themselves too much, lol. Basically, for him there is no difference in terminology as far as he's concerned and everyone pretty much accepts that about him, lol.

Of course the problem with that is little kids don't know they shouldn't use that language in public. The proper terms should always be used if one is in public, and little kids will repeat anything they hear. Then there were the friends who had a little guy who was very precocious , at 2 years old he talked very clearly and had a fog horn voice. The problem was little Charlie couldn't pronounce his T's they came out as F's. His grandmother lived in a frailor, so they ended up teaching him that trucks were cars. Back then you rarely heard that sort of language in public.

Kids don't need to be taught "vagina" and "penis" to shout out things in public that make their parents want to dig a hole and crawl into. "Look how fat that lady is mommy!" "Daddy why does that man only have one leg?" Kids just lack that filter

Besides. It matters more for children to know what to do if someone tries to touch their "pee pees" and "wee wees" than the anatomically correct terms.

captainbryce wrote:I agree. But I wonder just what percentage of parents actually utilize that logic. I suppose every parent is of a different mentality when it comes to the appropriateness of terms associate with body parts.

My friend Adam has 3 boys (9 year old twins and a 6 year old). His language doesn't alter between talking to them and talking to his peers. He is not above ordering them to make sure they wash their "cock & balls" in the shower, or yelling at them "stop playing with your dick", if they are touching themselves too much, lol. Basically, for him there is no difference in terminology as far as he's concerned and everyone pretty much accepts that about him, lol.

How much is too much? The kids need glasses or hair in their palms?

Alan Smithee wrote:

How much is too much? The kids need glasses or hair in their palms?

I would say, anytime it's done in public (where guests can see) qualifies as "too much", lol.

Alan Smithee wrote:Kids don't need to be taught "vagina" and "penis" to shout out things in public that make their parents want to dig a hole and crawl into. "Look how fat that lady is mommy!" "Daddy why does that man only have one leg?" Kids just lack that filter

Love that post, Al! So true! If the worst thing to happen in public is for a kid to name body parts, count blessings!

My son and I got out of the vehicle one time just as a pleasantly portly man got out of his car. My son said, "Look at that big fag." Of course he wasn't talking about the man at all, but the big flag outside a neighboring restaurant to the business we were at. Still the man gave us a look. My son was SO loud and spoke so clearly.....well, beyond eliminating the L sound in flag. So, 11 years later, I still feel like that man thought I called him that before opening the car doors.

To the OP, I always have used "penis" for my son, but called a vagina and "area" for years. I just couldn't bring myself to use "vagina" to him.

My uncles wife referred to her daughters privates as her rubies.

captainbryce wrote:A lot of parents seem to call it a "pee-pee" or "wee-wee" when referring to the "penis" or the "vagina". I never understood why that is. Why don't they just call them by the correct terminology? I mean penis and vagina aren't "bad words", so why are there so many silly colloquialisms for those body parts when talking to children.