Is Masturbation in Young Childhood Normal?

Short answer: Yes!

Long answer: It can make many parents feel uncomfortable and quite concerned about their child’s safety when they first notice their young child touching their own genitals. This makes parents start to wonder if this is normal behavior in children or is it a cause for concern?

Masturbation in general has long been considered a taboo topic and this has impacted how masturbation in young childhood was addressed. Early childhood masturbation was often misdiagnosed as seizures or neurological movement disorders due to a lack of understanding about why children masturbate. Many parents actually felt relief to receive these diagnoses instead of confronting their own discomfort around masturbation.

Due to the taboo nature of masturbation in general, there has been a lack of research on masturbation in early childhood. This has continued to contribute to the shock, shame, and embarrassment many parents feel when they notice their young child masturbating. Many doctors and pediatricians are also not well-informed about the behavior and how to support their patient’s parents.

Because the reality is, early childhood masturbation is not pathological therefore doctors don’t have to prescribe anything. Yet the parents are left trying to figure out how to manage their own discomfort and their child’s behavior without informed guidance. 

I have polled parents on my IG stories and asked y’all what you want to know about masturbation in early childhood. I’ve taken those questions, comments, and concerns and have created the webinar Everything You Need to Know: The (Early) Masturbation Talk.

In the 1-hour LIVE Webinar, I’ll answer the following questions using the latest research and statistics:

• How common is masturbation in early childhood?

• What’s the difference between Childhood Masturbation and Childhood Gratification Syndrome?

• Why do young children masturbate?

• When is masturbation in young childhood a concern?

• What should you say and do when you notice your young child masturbating?

• Will children grow out of it?

• Will masturbating in young childhood impact their sex life when they become an adult?

• How do I incorporate the early masturbation talk into the early sex talks?

Who is this webinar for?

Parents of children up to age 7 who have noticed their young child masturbating and are unsure how to move forward without creating feelings of shame or embarrassment.

Parents of children between the ages of 0-7 who would like to be prepared with what to say and how to react in case you notice your young child masturbating one day.

When is the LIVE webinar?

Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 12pm Pacific Time/ 3pm Eastern Time (USA)

Will there be a recording for parents who cannot attend the LIVE webinar?

YES! The recording will be available for viewing for up to 2 weeks after the LIVE webinar (until May 21, 2026). In order to view the recording, you need to have signed-up for the LIVE webinar.

How do I sign-up for 50% off?

Thank you for being subscribed to my newsletter! As a way to say thank you, please use the following discount code at check-out to get 50% off the cost of registration for the LIVE webinar.

Register here for the LIVE webinar on May 7, 2026!

At check-out, use this Discount Code for 50% off: 2026webinar

My goal is to help you where you’re at & if your goal is to start having the sex talks today, this week, or this month, I’m ready to help you!!

I’ve designed all my resources to make it easy for you to start having Top Talks!

This LIVE webinar is no different. I hope you will join me!

Don’t wait until your kid asks you a sex question to start learning how to answer it! The time to get prepared is now.

💕Kathleen