Explaining Anatonomy to a 4 year old

[Stardevil]

My 4 year old son walks into the bathroom the other day and asks." Mommy why are you sitting down?"

UMMM.............Because I can't stand up and go potty"

he asks WHy? and then goes searchign for an answer.

Now I HOPE I am not the only mother who has gone through this but what int hw world do you tell a 4 year old when he goes looking for mommy's "pecker" as he calls it

Any advice?

[CosmicWhispers]

Now I HOPE I am not the only mother who has gone through this but what int hw world do you tell a 4 year old when he goes looking for mommy's "pecker" as he calls it
That is funny! :rotfl: :rollingla

[Ceres]

My almost five year old son commented on the same thing this past weekend. He came in, saw me sitting and asked "are you pooping?" I laughed and said no, girls and women sit for both. He informed me that boys dont have to sit to pee and then took off. Apparently he decided he knows why; it is some great oversight that women's anatomy is deficient in this manner.
I wouldnt approach it unless he asks again. If he does, tell him the truth - your equipment is mostly up inside. Most kids accept gender differences in stride. They seem to understand thats justt he way it is. I WOULD however recommend referring to all the parts, male or female, by their proper terms. It saves embarassment later, when he refers to his or someone else's in slang terms in the wrong situation. Have no fear, they learn all kinds of slang terms for genitals all on their own!

[Zoritsa_Nepenthe]

At this point my son just knows that mommy and other girls don't have a penis like boys do,so they have to pee sitting down.He seems content with that answer.Just give as much information as they are willing to take in.If he doesn't question anymore after giving a simple answer,its safe to leave it as is until he's ready.

[Stardevil]

Thanlk You both of you.. He is my only child and tryign to figure these things out is very confusing on my end.. I cannot wait until he is out of the "why" stage!

[SphinYote]

Hey! I'm 24 and I'm still in the "Why?" stage. It's a good thing. :D :D One must always question everything (however asking the question in one's mind and looking up the answer rather than asking out loud anyone who will listen is always a good thing, too...)

I don't have kids of my own, but apparently when I was about two I walked in on my dad in the bathroom and...asked. Him being rather embarrassed said something like "well...it's this thing..." not really knowing what to say. So apparently I went running out of the room yelling "MOOOMMMEEEEE!!! Daddy has this sting!!!"

[Darakash]

Ugh, you have my empathy, my daughter (also 4) just asked me yesterday, how she "got out of my tummy" I answered "you were born" and she actually was pretty cool with that...but on the "pecker' (hilarious name by the way) thing... I would just say, "I am a woman, and girls/women dont have them" As simple as that....the simpler and most honest the answer I am finding works the best....thus far, anyway! LOL....

[Jenne]

Well, anatomy books made for 4 year olds are a good thing as well. Honesty and nonchalance are the best routes for curiosity at that age. And being your son, you'd know what information he can handle at the moment!

Kids...they don't come with instruction manuals, do they? :)

[Ceres]

I think its important to tell kids that men and women are DIFFERENT, not that men have something and women dont. Its a small difference, but it can mean a lot. Kids think strange things: Boys fear theirs may disappear like what happened to girls and girls may feel they are missing out.

[Darakash]

I think its important to tell kids that men and women are DIFFERENT, not that men have something and women dont. Its a small difference, but it can mean a lot. Kids think strange things: Boys fear theirs may disappear like what happened to girls and girls may feel they are missing out.

Oh good point, didnt think of my wording there, I have a girl, so...it has never been an issue in that direct way, she just wanted the know what the heck was hanging off daddy's bod....so we told her. It is a penis. It is the privates that boys/males have or some such....

[Ceres]

she just wanted the know what the heck was hanging off daddy's bod....so we told her.

lmao!

[Stardevil]

Well thank the Gods I am not the only one who has this problem.. I will try what has been suggested and see if that helps.. Thank you everyone!