Is it normal for a 9 year old girl to touch herself?

Author: Treva Hermiston  |  Last update: Friday, September 26, 2025

As she has been doing this her whole life, please know that it is normal and age-appropriate for young children to touch their genitals and experience pleasure. This includes using objects to rub against. Masturbation is part of a child's exploration of their body and how it works.

Why does my 9 year old touch her privates?

Children's natural curiosity about their bodies

They typically are driven by curiosity and attempts at self-soothing. Curiosity about bodies, and their differences, can also prompt children to try to look at others in states of undress, rub up against them and ask questions about genitals and toileting.

Why is my daughter touching herself?

All children, including babies, ``touch themselves''; it is part of exploring and discovering themselves physically. In the same way as a baby puts things in their mouth like a wooden building block (but of course not to swallow), they are exploring that object by taste and touch.

Is it common for girls to touch themselves?

Masturbation, self exploration, or self stimulation are common in both boys and girls from a young age. Somewhere along the line our children discover that when they touch themselves in certain spots, it feels nice.

How to get a child to stop touching himself?

Distract him. Playing with their genitals is a lot like nose-picking -- children do it because it's there, because they're bored, and because their hands are free. If his hands keep going down his trousers at inopportune moments (in front of your in-laws, for example) keep a toy close by to distract him with.

Parenting Tips - Behavioral Signs That A Child Has Been Molested

What age does arousal start?

Sexual arousal can begin for some people shortly before puberty. Children as young as 10 to 13 may experience sexual attraction or excitement. One study shows that people report experiencing their first orgasm around age 13 to 17. Other studies show it's normal for children as young as 7 to begin feeling sexual desire.

Why does my child put himself down?

Kids might say bad things about themselves — negative self-talk — for different reasons. They might have high expectations for themselves, or they might be getting bullied and starting to believe what the bully is saying to them. Others do it because they're not good at bouncing back when something bad happens.

Is it normal for 10 year olds to touch themselves?

About sexual development and behaviour at 10-11 years

But it's common for pre-teens to become more curious about sex and sexuality as they develop. For children aged 10-11 years, sexual curiosity and experimentation might include: touching their genitals or masturbating in private.

Why does my daughter not like me touching her?

A child who is very sensitive to touch might find hugs or kisses constraining and thus might try to squirm away from them. All of this is normal, expected variation because like adults, kids have their own unique personalities and preferences.

What does it mean when a girl is touching?

When a girl touches you, it's often a sign of comfort, interest, or a desire to establish a closer connection. Physical touch is a powerful form of non-verbal communication, and when a woman initiates contact, it could indicate that she feels a certain level of trust and attraction towards you.

Why does my daughter hit her self?

Most often, a child will hit themself because they feel overwhelmed by their emotions. They're not yet able to express their needs and frustrations. This may be the case among toddlers who can't speak yet or children who are trying to communicate frustration when their parents don't understand.

Why is my daughter so touchy?

Some kids are driven by their sensation-craving “sensory profile,” as it's called, and they're not able to curb their impulse for the sake of propriety. “Children can love tickles and snuggles and hugs and they just love the sense of pressure up against objects or other people,” Radesky says.

Why do autistic kids touch themselves?

Sensory issues

Some autistic children and teenagers seek out sensory experiences. For example, they might wear tight-fitting clothing, look for things to touch, hear or taste, or rub their arms and legs against things. This might lead them to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

Is it normal for a girl to touch her private parts?

By early adolescence, touching or rubbing genitals can continue but should be happening in private. Caregivers can respond to their child engaging in self-soothing/masturbation behaviors by saying, “As you're getting older your body changes in different ways.

How to teach your child about inappropriate touching?

Dickson shares advice for how parents can equip kids with the tools they need to prevent, confront or respond to attempts of sexual abuse.
  1. Teach children "you're the boss of your body" ...
  2. Don't force any kind of touch. ...
  3. Use the proper words for body parts. ...
  4. Keep the right tone. ...
  5. Talk about good touch versus bad touch.

Why is my daughter rubbing against everything?

SENSORY RUBBING/PRIVATE TOUCHING

It is important to remember that this behaviour is perfectly normal even for very young children. In order to protect the child and to help the rest of the family cope with the behaviour we need to make sure that the child learns that there are safe places for private touching.

What age do you talk to kids about inappropriate touching?

In the same way, parents need to teach their children that they have private parts of their bodies and that it is not okay for others to touch these parts. Please print and share with other parents and caregivers Parents should begin to teach their children about body safety between the ages of 3-5.

Why does my daughter pinch me?

Babies bite, pinch and pull hair to work out cause and effect. Toddlers often do it to express feelings. Respond to this behaviour by saying 'No', but stay calm. Try not to give attention to the behaviour.

Is it normal for kids to be touchy?

It is normal for children to touch other people. It is normal for children to be so wrapped up in their own joy that they don't notice someone else isn't feeling the same way. It is normal for children to need their adult's help in these interactions.

At what age does a girl start ejaculating?

Results: Over a period of 18 months, 320 women from all over the world were included in the study (excluding women below the age of 18 years and double entries). The women's mean age was 34.1 years (±11.1) and their mean age at first ejaculation was 25.4 years. Most women ejaculate a few times a week.

Why is my 9 year old daughter so difficult?

Your nine year old is transitioning between childhood and the teen years. As a result they might appear more emotional, clingy, anxious, argumentative, defiant. Perhaps you feel they never listen to you, or are becoming self-critical. All of these behaviours are bringing us a message.

Is it normal for a child to touch themselves?

It can be shocking for parents, but it's part of growing up! It might feel like you “caught” your child doing something “wrong,” but it's almost always developmentally appropriate. Kids get curious about and touch their own bodies as early as age 2, and can express curiosity about others' bodies by age 4.

Is it normal for a 6 year old to say they wish they were dead?

Many children say something like this at some point, it is not uncommon. It does not necessarily mean your child is depressed (they may be, but it's not a definitive sign) nor does it doesn't mean there is something else wrong with them.

At what age do girls start feeling?

Most females will start puberty when they're 8 to 13 years old, and most males will start between 9 and 14. But it can also be normal to start earlier or later. Hormones from the brain trigger the start of puberty. Hormones are chemical messengers that tell the body what to do.

At what age do boys start ejaculating?

Ejaculation typically starts when a person begins producing sperm around the age of puberty. Puberty happens at different times for different people. Generally, people start puberty between 10 and 12 years old. This means a person may ejaculate for the first time within this age range.

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