Do you teach your children the right words for body parts or nicknames?

Sorry to hijack your discussion but didn't know how else to ask this...Do you post on a different paid forum under a different name? This exact discussion (word for word) got posted there just a little while ago. I didn't want to report it unless I knew for sure it wasn't you. Another one from the same poster looked familiar too but I couldn't find it again here when I looked.

I have always called the body part by its proper name right from the beginning. I didn't want to confuse them with nicnames. My sister choose to call it by nic names and her daughter still calls a body part a cookie...lol..although it may sound cute when they were young, it dont now, because her daughter is almost 14 years old.

I think it's right to teach children the right terms for body parts. A lot of people will teach their children nicknames like you said, and i don't think that's appropriate, because when they do find out the real names, they will think of why mommy or daddy didn't call it that way, and they will wonder even more about those certain body parts, wonder if it's taboo, and so on.

i hope to teach my kids the proper names for parts. But I realize they will learn the nicknames and bad words for them from school, television, who knows where. They'll pick it up from other kids. But I'm going to use proper English with my children.

Yes I use the proper terms with my son. I regret to say I didn't do so with my daughters when they were tots. To that end I dealt with lots of giggles when I started using the correct terms. Yet you can ask my not yet 3 yo where his P*enis and he will point to is.

I don't have children, but should I someday do I would do exactly as my own mother did for me. Each body part gets called by it's proper name. I think that by coming up with nicknames or not mentioning these things at all that a parent pushes their embarassment and lack of comfort onto the child and teaches them to be ashamed of their bodies when they should be proud and comfortable.

The direct approach seems like a good idea. Some words may need some further explanation.

My son doesn´t talk much yet, but we have already started to teach him the right names for body parts. He has to learn them in two languages, though, so it might take some time!

Me also i make sure that everything that i teaches to my two little daugthers are the right one's. Don't ever use baby talks. Babies now-a-days are intelligent. They can already understand right away. So just always talk to them the proper and right way.

I think its ok to use nicknames with younger kids. Older children should definitely be taught the proper terms for their body.

Personally, when my chld grows up I will indeed teach her the proper names for the body parts at least she will not get confused and this will improve her self awareness and body concept. Yes i completely agree, however it has been in our culture or tradition or environment for as long as we can remember...so something like this will be kind of hard remove from the society system, specially of we don't do anything about this.

I guess you have a point, but I can't help but remembering years ago, when I went to visit my 4 year old nephew his friend was telling me that boys have a pen-s and women have a v-gina. I think that was a little bit too early, myself. (Heck, I couldn't even post this without making some changes, and we are adults.) Any thoughts?

Why would a nickname be considered more socially acceptable than the real name? It's referring to the same body parts!

I feel it is important to teach our children correctly about their body. It is our responsiblity, If we don't it opens the opportunity for someone else to. Someone that has different agenda for our children and their bodies. Safe Hugs Patty www.LavenderPower.org

So right you are. I was raised with such stupid names and embarrasement, that it hung me up to this day. I raised mine to use the right words, no matter how much it was uncomfortable. I'm giving you a + rating for a fine posting.

I teach them proper names, but they also know the nicknames people call their private parts. I think it is important for children to know these things, so if someone touches them there then they know how to pronounce what happen. My children knew their body parts by the time they were two. Yeah my son was two would say and thats my pen*s. When I asked him to tell me different places of his body, He start at his head and work his was down to his toes. Just as my girls did also. Naming all their body parts till they had them down. If anyways ever touchs them wrong, they will be able to help the DA's office because they know the right terms for their body parts. It is irresponsible not to teach them the proper names.

There is a simple reason people do this, and thats because kids don't know appropriateness and its easier to handle your child talking about their "cookie" or "po po" than it is to walk through a grocery store with your child yelling anatomical terms. And its not like kids dont learn the anatomical names through their education or at a more appropriate time anyways..

Yes, I teach the correct names for body parts. Why do some feel compelled to use a cute name or nickname for some body parts and not others? Do you ever use a cute little nickname for a child's knee? No! I feel that the nicknames are because of the parent's embarrassement and being uncomfortable with sexuality! There is nothing to be embarassed about when discussing the body parts! They are just that, parts! One doesn't have to discuss what they are used for, just name them! By creating a mystique, we encourage chidlren to wonder and experiment do all they can to figure out what we are hiding!!! I have worked child and adolescent mental health for years, and the professionals are in agreement that truth is best...and use of correct terminology!

i certainly agree wth you.. the children should know their body parts in perfect english..and that there is nothing to be shy or embarrassed about it..after its our body .. we carry it all along..

My parents taught my siblings and me the right names for everything. As I got older and began hearing slang for body parts it actually originally confused me. Whenever I have children I will teach them the corect names for body parts.