What do you call the area down there?

[fourthontheway]

I use correct terminology because of all the reasons listed above.

I also used to find it a bit "giggly" saying vagina and penis, and I was very concerned about this embarrassment passing onty my child in a negative way - after all, to them it's just a body part, I didn't want to stigmatise their body parts. So - and I kids you not - I stood infront of a mirror and said the words until I was comfortable with them It might sounds REALLY silly, but it worked

[skybie]

we used to call DD1's a bum too, then she started pointing to it and saying bum, so we started calling it a vagina, andteaching her that daddy had a penis because he's a boy.

DF is totally uncomfortable with her calling it 'agina' but i think its important she knows the right words, so if something ,god forbid, ever happened,there'd be no confusion

[Astrid]

Winky is term I have not really heard before.

[sneakysparkle]

We have taught DD vagina but generally say "gina" because its easier

For some reason "vagina" is more uncomfortable to say - hopefully by teaching our children that its normal to say it they wont have the same issues with their children!

[JCE0810]

DD showers with either DF or I and is always looking at our "bits" and sometimes points and and sometimes points at my nether region and then points at her own and i wasnt sure what to call "down there".

I think we'll go with the correct terms because as its been said by several people in this thread heaven forbid anything happen i dont want there to be any confusion.

[lilima]

Ds calls his a "doodle" Don't know how it started. He calls DD's a "gina." But often asks me "where did E's Doddle go?" THen I have to do more explaining about how a girl doesn't have a doodle!!

[maz]

We call it a vagina a "ja ja" in this house and "doodle" for a penis.

I think as a parent you have to feel comfortable in what your child refer's to their private places. I also think that the earlier you teach your child about no one touching 'down there' the better. V know's that no-one but her is permitted to touch her 'ja ja' and even tell's her brother's off is she see's then itching their 'doodles'.

[Visitor7]

I too have taught the girls the proper names, vagina and penis.
We've also taught Nina that her vagina is not a toy, and that unless she permits it, no-one is to touch it. If she is ever feeling sore on her vagina, she will always ask for me. She'll even say to dh, 'no daddy, I would like mummy to look at my vagina'. He has always respected that, and I think he'd prefer that as well LOL.

[Rainbow_Mumma]

DD1 calls hers a "moomoo" no idea where she got it from and i never thought of correcting her until i read this i think now we are going to get that book suggested earlier and learn the proper names!

[Willow]

We call it 'giny' and 'doodle'.

I'm comfortable with these. I think giny is pretty obviously a vagina and if my DD ever talked about anyone touching it I'd sure as hell know what she meant. I think doodle is another pretty widely accepted term for penis and again if my sons were talking about their doodle I'd know what they meant.

Perhaps when they are older and speaking properly (for the boys) I will reconsider.

[paradise lost]

Willow as far as i know the usefulness of the real words isn't only for reporting to you but in stopping the abusers in their tracks in the first place (a child who says "do not touch my penis/vagina" is obviously clued in AND able to report indiscretions VERY accurately and many paedophiles report that is a major turn off to them) and to the police. I have had to report sexual abuse that happened to me as a child and the police cannot put in a statement "child reports touching of the winky" nor can they teach the right words at that point because it can be seen as "coaching a witness". Often times the only solution is lengthy play therapy with dolls having the child video'd while acting out the abuse over and over to make it clear, and even then there will be a lot of doubt that wouldn't exist if the child was able to say "he put his penis against/into my vagina".

I do completely accept that everyone has to parent the way they know how and feel comfortable, but as a child who was abused for 7 years, i cannot tell you the power knowing the simple words "vagina" and "penis" would have given me. It's difficult to express the pain i could have been saved by knowing those terms.

Bx

[maz]

Hon....knowing the words penis and vagina didnt help me at all.....the words fell on deaf ears for me and I may as well said freakle and hose for all those who I tried to reach out for to help me to hear.

I personally dont feel comfortable will my 3 yo saying VAGINA out loud...especially when I have an autistic 7yo who would use that and make it a mokery. We tried with PENIS and the hell we put up with for 2 months about it. No thanks.

[Ella]

Yep we us fanny and doodle here.

I know what everyone is saying above about using the correct terms, but I also think that it's ok to use the words we do. I think I will be teaching DS to use both.

[Nicambhar]

fanny and doodle here, even my teens call it that LOL...

[{sarah}]

Juliette is confused at the moment & anything below her belly button front & back is "bobum" (bottom), Zander likes correcting her though "nooo that's your vagina". He will proudly tell everyone that boys have a penis & girls have a vagina, just like the little boy in Kindergarten Cop

[JCE0810]

just like the little boy in Kindergarten Cop

Sarah thats what i thought of when i seen this thread

[Visitor3]

I personally think terms should be age appropriate too.... Having said that though, correct terms would be taught before beginning school because of what others have said and it will be the first time I will not be around DD.

[clare076]

Oh Sarah, I hear ya on that one, my DD wasn't even 2 and she was telling the other kids at daycare that she had a vagina and the boys had a penis.
It didnt bother me, but the carer came and asked me if we taught her the correct names because I was a nurse? I told her no, I taught her the correct names because that is what they are called and I didnt want to have to teach her twice.
Now my 2yo son tells everyone that daddy has a bum and a willie, even the checkout chick