Legitimate words for private parts to children

DM addict · 01-08-2014 10:55PM

I'd agree with using penis and vagina. I work with preschoolers, and these are the terms we use with them. It's unambiguous and honest.

I understand why we have such a plethora of slang for genitalia, but I think children should be taught the correct terms for body parts rather than slang. Demystifies things.

When I was a kid, it was front bum for the whole area.

conorhal · 01-08-2014 10:57PM

Candie wrote: »

Arm or leg isn't medical terminology, just a proper name. Penis and vagina/vulva are proper names and nothing to be uncomfortable about.

Having slang words for those body parts sets them apart and that makes them out of the ordinary. If you want the kids to see their bodies as whole and normal, don't use slang for their private parts.

You want them to be as comfortable with their genitals as they are with their elbows or knees. You don't have special names for those, like sharpy arms and bendy legs, and there should be no more embarrassment about genitals than anywhere else. I was raised with the proper names, and I've no problem using them. Don't pass on your discomfort.

Says somebody from an parenting manual from Sweden.
That's all well and good until your four year old starts hollaring VAGINA! in a supermarket.
They love to use new words that they've learned so stick to euphimisims until they are old enough to know the difference, nobody ever raised an eyebrow about a four year old shouting Woo Woo!. :pac:

Thought I love the post on 'You Laugh you loose' from facebook that goes:

I love the word ppop, you mouth makes the same shapes you anus does!

Followed by the reply:

As it does with 'explosive diarrhea!'

rainbowtrout · 01-08-2014 11:03PM

conorhal wrote: »

Says somebody from an parenting manual from Sweden.
That's all well and good until your four year old starts hollaring VAGINA! in a supermarket.
They love to use new words that they've learned so stick to euphimisims until they are old enough to know the difference, nobody ever raised an eyebrow about a four year old shouting Woo Woo!. :pac:

Kids are only going to make a big deal of a new word if they sense that it's something they shouldn't be saying.

And anyway, if they were shouting vagina in a supermarket why would you care?

01-08-2014 11:03PM

conorhal wrote: »

Says somebody from an parenting manual from Sweden.
That's all well and good until your four year old starts hollaring VAGINA! in a supermarket.
They love to use new words that they've learned so stick to euphimisims until they are old enough to know the difference, nobody ever raised an eyebrow about a four year old shouting Woo Woo!. :pac:

If everyone used the proper names then there'd be no more eyebrows raised. Only then will vagina or penis be as normal to hear as any other body part, instead of something shrouded in euphemism.

And really, how much time does your (or anyones) four year old spend shouting vagina in Tescos? Surely you're big enough not to get embarrassed?

McChubbin · 01-08-2014 11:07PM

This video will educate you! :pac:

conorhal · 01-08-2014 11:08PM

rainbowtrout wrote: »

Kids are only going to make a big deal of a new word if they sense that it's something they shouldn't be saying.

And anyway, if they were shouting vagina in a supermarket why would you care?

Soooooooo not a dad.

StudentDad · 01-08-2014 11:09PM

conorhal wrote: »

That's all well and good until your four year old starts hollaring VAGINA! in a supermarket!. :pac:

LOL So bloody what if said child runs around shouting vagina. My children were taught the correct terminology and when there has been an issue there is very little embarrassment on their part because they were given the confidence and correct terminology.

Although I've yet to encounter any child running around a supermarket shouting vagina or any other euphemisms

SD

01-08-2014 11:13PM

conorhal wrote: »

Soooooooo not a dad.

You don't have to be a parent to observe. I've never heard a kid shout vagina in a supermarket, but I've observed a kid use curses because they know it's a taboo plenty of times.

Use the word like the normal term it is. Make it a big issue and of course they will too. Parents don't have a monopoly on common sense.

fussyonion · 01-08-2014 11:14PM

I find it toe-curling to hear parents describe it as "Mary" or "Winky".
It's such a toffee-nosed thing to do; give names to what is a VAGINA and a PENIS.

None of this "Now, Tarquin, what do we call it?" "My peepee, Mommy".
NO, IT'S YOUR PENIS.
Why the taboo around calling it the proper feckin name?!!!!!!!!

Kimbot · 01-08-2014 11:16PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgGrsXqpmO0

conorhal · 01-08-2014 11:17PM

StudentDad wrote: »

LOL So bloody what if said child runs around shouting vagina. My children were taught the correct terminology and when there has been an issue there is very little embarrassment on their part because they were given the confidence and correct terminology.

Although I've yet to encounter any child running around a supermarket shouting vagina or any other euphemisms

SD

Kids are embarrasing, I intend to remind them of this when I'm old i'm embarrasing! And we live in such a wierd society that things like this are a reality about how we view each other in places like the UK:

A quarter of the adult population faces an "anti-paedophile" test in an escalation of child protection policies, according to a report.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2194359/A-quarter-of-adults-to-face-anti-paedophile-tests.html

conorhal · 01-08-2014 11:21PM

Candie wrote: »

You don't have to be a parent to observe. I've never heard a kid shout vagina in a supermarket, but I've observed a kid use curses because they know it's a taboo plenty of times.

Use the word like the normal term it is. Make it a big issue and of course they will too. Parents don't have a monopoly on common sense.

Actually yes they do for the most part. Kids are lovely but they're stupid.

01-08-2014 11:22PM

Fleshy Envelope for Vagina.

Royal Scepter or Staff of Life for Penis.

01-08-2014 11:26PM

conorhal wrote: »

Actually yes they do for the most part. Kids are lovely but they're stupid.

I meant over non-parents, not kids.

conorhal · 01-08-2014 11:29PM

Candie wrote: »

I meant over non-parents, not kids.

And I meant that kids are stupid and embarrasing, as I intend to be in my decrepitude.

lazygal · 01-08-2014 11:30PM

Just to be pedantic, most people seem to refer to vagina when they mean vulva. The vagina is inside, vulva are outside. Vagina is not a catch all term for female anatomy.

Muise... · 01-08-2014 11:32PM

Candie wrote: »

If everyone used the proper names then there'd be no more eyebrows raised. Only then will vagina or penis be as normal to hear as any other body part, instead of something shrouded in euphemism.

And really, how much time does your (or anyones) four year old spend shouting vagina in Tescos? Surely you're big enough not to get embarrassed?

Little girls aren't that aware of their vaginas because they don't urinate with them and they are hidden in folds of flesh - the vulva - which they are aware of.

I did hear of a four year old who was amusing himself by singing through the alphabet at Mass. A-A-A-apple, B-B-B-ball [...] V-V-V-VULVA! - at which point the endearment of the congregation turned to mortification and higher-amplitude praying.

rainbowtrout · 01-08-2014 11:35PM

conorhal wrote: »

Soooooooo not a dad.

No, but I am a teacher and watch how kids are completely mortified saying penis and vagina in my science class when they are studying reproduction. If they want to ask questions in class I make them use the correct terms, they think they can say all sorts of things to embarrass me, which doesn't work and eventually they get over themselves and use the words penis and vagina and a few other terms without making a big deal out of it.

That's probably a more valuable lesson than lots of the other stuff I teach.

01-08-2014 11:39PM

rainbowtrout wrote: »

No, but I am a teacher and watch how kids are completely mortified saying penis and vagina in my science class when they are studying reproduction. If they want to ask questions in class I make them use the correct terms, they think they can say all sorts of things to embarrass me, which doesn't work and eventually they get over themselves and use the words penis and vagina and a few other terms without making a big deal out of it.

That's probably a more valuable lesson than lots of the other stuff I teach.

People seem to pass on their discomfort to their kids along with their choice of terminology.

Both my parents are medics, vulva, penis, vagina et al were as normal to use as chin or ear in my house. Teenagers being embarrassed to use proper names is sad, especially since they can probably use some really vulgar slang terms with no problems.

anncoates · 01-08-2014 11:40PM

Gee

Muise... · 01-08-2014 11:44PM

Candie wrote: »

People seem to pass on their discomfort to their kids along with their choice of terminology.

Both my parents are medics, vulva, penis, vagina et al were as normal to use as chin or ear in my house. Teenagers being embarrassed to use proper names is sad, especially since they can probably use some really vulgar slang terms with no problems.

The embarrassment that really cracks me up is when people lower their heads and sort of whisper it in an otherwise normal-voiced sentence. Friend of mine attended pre-natal classes with an old dear of a nurse who could only say 'vagina' in hushed and apologetic tones.

01-08-2014 11:51PM

Muise... wrote: »

The embarrassment that really cracks me up is when people lower their heads and sort of whisper it in an otherwise normal-voiced sentence. Friend of mine attended pre-natal classes with an old dear of a nurse who could only say 'vagina' in hushed and apologetic tones.

Maybe it's like the movie 'Beetlejuice', and if she says it aloud three times a big ghostly vagina will materialise and terrorise everyone with it's evil pranks

stefan idiot jones · 02-08-2014 12:03AM

When I was young, girls had a 'tuppy', boys had a 'willy'.

The '70's were a better more innocent time. Now it's growler, gash or burst rugby ball.

anncoates · 02-08-2014 12:17AM

We used to call them (in England) a polly and willy for some reason

JuliusCaesar · 02-08-2014 12:21AM

gg2 wrote: »

I work in childcare and have never heard a child refer to their genitalia with the correct terms. ........... I will happily ask a mate "can you see my vagina?", they think its hilarious when I say it.

But the correct term for the visible parts of female anatomy is VULVA. The vagina is invisible unless you are using a speculum.

Useful for kids to learn both common and correct words: fanny and vulva, mickey/willy and penis. Why not? Why not be comfortable with both?

Renegade Mechanic · 02-08-2014 12:21AM

stefan idiot jones wrote: »

...burst rugby ball.

Im dying here

Muise... · 02-08-2014 12:23AM

anncoates wrote: »

We used to call them (in England) a polly and willy for some reason

and now I am imagining a flange-parrot that repeats everything you say. :pac:

StudentDad · 02-08-2014 12:31AM

conorhal wrote: »

Kids are embarrasing, I intend to remind them of this when I'm old i'm embarrasing! And we live in such a wierd society that things like this are a reality about how we view each other in places like the UK:

A quarter of the adult population faces an "anti-paedophile" test in an escalation of child protection policies, according to a report.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2194359/A-quarter-of-adults-to-face-anti-paedophile-tests.html

Moral panic nonsense. If the sheep are bleating, let 'em bleat.

I fear for the sanity and all round health of society sometimes and then I stop myself and realise that this reportage comes from the Telegpah and probably stories like it from it's partner in spin The Daily Fail. Suddenly life isn't so bad

SD

Tin Foil Hat · 02-08-2014 12:31AM

My wife is a gaelgóir. We use 'pilibín' for the todger. We've no girls, so I have no idea what she'd call a vagina.
Vagina really is an ugly word.

petrolcan · 02-08-2014 12:52AM

Candie wrote: »

Parents don't have a monopoly on common sense.

Yes, we bloody do!

Legitimate words for private parts to children

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