DEAR DOCTOR,
WE HAVE A 8 YEAR OLD BOY CHILD. FOR PAST 6 MONTHS OR SO HE IS ENGAGING HIMSELF TO SELF STIMULATION OF HIS GENITALS. THOUGH HE IS UNAWARE OF 'MASTURBATION'. THE PROCESS OF SELF STIMULATION WAS EXHIBITED AT SOCIAL PLACES/SCHOOL ETC WHEN HE THOUGHT THAT NOBODY WILL WATCH HIM. OUR CONSTANT COUNCELLING AND MAKE HIM UNDERSTAND HAS RESULTED IN SOME RESULTS BUT NOT COMPLETELY. PLEASE ADVISE/COMMENT AS WHY HE IS BEHAVING IN THIS MANNER, IS IT NORMAL FOR KIDS OF HIS AGE, WILL IT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON HIS PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ? FOR YOUR INFORMATION HE IS VERY ENERGETIC AND HYPERACTIVE.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING TO MENTION HERE IS THAT WHEN HE WAS ONE N HALF YEAR OLD HE WOULD TURN ON HIS STOMACH AND ENGAGE IN THIS ACTIVITY BY UP N DOWN MOTION OF HIS PELVIS.