MY Son, 6 Years Old, Likes To Smell His Butt? Do You Know Why?

It's his. He's curious. Every child wants to know all about his/her body and every adult ought to teach. But, how often do parents find and seek to create moments to teach their child all about their bodies. After all, the child will hear or actually be called names like: Butthead, penisbreath, shithead, and too many other 'bad' names made-up by school children and grungy adults.

Children learn early by actions of words spoken around them that parts of their body are: Dirty, smelly, stink, etc. They wonder why. They want to know. Does a parent ever give them information that helps them to know what causes 'stink, smelly' or what 'dirty' means? Why not take a teaching moment to teach the 6 year old son who "likes to smell his butt" about what happens when he eats, how it goes through the body and why it smells and what happens to it when it leaves the commode. Same regarding what happens to water, juice, pop, cocoa and other liquids they drink...they want to know. Don't you think that all children wonder what happens to all of the food they eat and drink. Curious children will learn the information they want from someone, somewhere. The information they gain from a parent is usually more accurate that what other kids say. You may think I'm wrong on this answer "butt" I think I'm right.

I caught my child smelling his friends behind..I find this quite disgusting and want to know why this is happening.  I questioned him about whether he had someone do this to him and he claims no.  He said he just wanted to do it.   Anyone else with this issue or something similar.  I know kids like to show body parts and that is all part of growing up..but this is not right.