Names for private parts of the body

Talking about names for private parts of the body

Before we offer some help with talking with your child about names for private parts of their body it might be helpful to explain why children need to know these words.

Firstly, if we use the correct words children will learn that their private parts/genitals are just a part of their body, and so children need to know what to call them. We can help keep children healthy and safe throughout life if we avoid giving the message that their genitals are something so embarrassing that we need to give them nicknames or not refer to them at all. From an early age, we can teach children that the parts of their body that are private have names that we can all use and understand without embarrassment or shame. We want our children to have a positive view of their body.

Secondly, when children know the names for parts of their body, they will be healthier and safer. This is because when a child knows the correct words and has the confidence to use them, they can tell us (and know that it is okay to tell us) when something is sore or uncomfortable. They can also learn as they grow up that if someone touches them or shows them their genitals, or shows them a pictures or film of such, then they can tell us exactly what has happened.

The words we can use with our children.

Here are the words we can help our children to learn, along with a bit of an explanation of the purpose of these parts of the body.

Private parts: Your private parts are the parts of your body that people don’t see. Your private parts are covered by your pants and when you wear a vest.

Vulva: Girls have a vulva. When a girl goes to the toilet to urinate (pee/wee), it comes down a tube called the urethra which ends just inside the vulva, so that’s where the urine comes out.

Note: If a child uses the word vagina to describe this part of their body, we can say: Sometimes people use the word vagina, but the vagina is actually just the bit inside the girl’s vulva. So, if you are a girl, the bit you see between your legs when you look at your body is your vulva.

Penis: Boys have a penis. When a boy urinates (pees), it comes down a tube called the urethra that goes to the end of his penis where it comes out.

Nipples: Boys and girls have nipples. When a girl grows, she will develop breasts. If a woman has a baby, then she can breast feed her baby; the baby would get milk from its mum’s nipples. Sometimes people ask, “so, why do boys have nipples?” All babies develop the same way until their mum is about 8 weeks pregnant, and that includes nipples. So, if the baby that is growing inside the mum develops to become a boy, he will still have nipples.

Scrotum and testicles: The scrotum is the sack of skin that hangs under the boy’s penis. Inside there are little balls called the testicles.

These images might help in your conversations.