At what age should a mother stop showering with her son?

In general, I would say that by the age of 8 or 9 years-10 at the latest-most children have developed enough of a sense of personal boundaries and body space that they no longer want to shower with a parent or bathe with a sibling of the opposite sex.

contemporarypediatrics.com - Behavior: Ask the Experts: TOO OLD TO SHOWER TOGETHER?

What is the psychological profile of a hoarder?

People with hoarding disorder have persistent difficulty getting rid of or parting with possessions due to a perceived need to save the items....

Last updated May 16, 2019

Can the US shoot down a nuke from Russia?

Instead of a comprehensive layered system, the United States has no boost-phase ballistic missile defense systems and no defense against the...

Last updated Jul 29, 2020

Promotion

Q. The father of two siblings in my practice-a 7-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy-is upset by the fact that their mother (from whom he is divorced) showers with the two children together.

Benjamin Rosenblum, MD Marlton, N.J.

A. There is no simple answer to this question-no single, developmentally appropriate age. In general, I would say that by the age of 8 or 9 years-10 at the latest-most children have developed enough of a sense of personal boundaries and body space that they no longer want to shower with a parent or bathe with a sibling of the opposite sex. But Dr. Rosenblum's query raises broader issues. A parallel discussion with the mother might touch not only on the divorce but also on whether she sees the shower as a "social" activity-which may be a holdover from times when the children were younger. Of equal importance is getting a sense from the children of how they feel about showering together. Are they embarrassed? Is it a matter of course? Do they laugh about it with their friends? Most children their age cannot directly express their feelings about something they are uncomfortable with, but their responses could provide an indication of when and how the pediatrician might assist this family. I would see this situation as a time to help both parents encourage the children to further develop personal boundaries and respect for each member of the family-and for each parent to do the same. By 5 or 6 years, most children are reluctant to "report" on a parent; asking them to do so shows a lack of respect for them as individuals. The need for such respect extends to activities such as showering together. Most 7- and 8-year-olds are beginning to develop a sense of social modesty and body space. Parents need to encourage siblings to respect this in each other. It's not uncommon for a child to be uncomfortable with bathroom and shower activities in the presence of others but to be afraid to say so. Siblings at this age cannot be expected to recognize signals on their own. Even if they do, their response may be to tease or harass their brother or sister. Likewise, adults have their own boundaries and expectations for privacy-whether that means sleeping in their bed without children or believing that their actions, as long as they are not illegal or abusive, will not be subject to judgments by an ex-spouse that are then voiced to their children. Teaching these lessons when a child is 6 to 8 years old is much more effective than trying, years later, to suddenly make an adolescent see the virtues of respect and tolerance.

William Sammons, MD Framingham, Mass.

DR. SAMMONS is in private practice and takes a special interest in the children of divorce. He is coauthor, with Jenny Lewis, MD, of Don't Divorce Your Children. He is board-certified in developmental and behavioral pediatrics.

Which is healthier almonds or peanuts?

So, the verdict is in favor of almonds, as they are better nutritionally than peanuts as they contain more iron, calcium, magnesium and healthy fats.

Last updated Feb 8, 2022

What is Pseudodysphagia?

Pseudodysphagia, in its severe form, is the irrational fear of swallowing or, in its minor form, of choking. The symptoms are psychosomatic, so...

Last updated Oct 1, 2021

Promotion

Does staying up late stunt your growth?

A single night of no sleep will not stunt growth. But over the long term, a person's growth may be affected by not getting the full amount of sleep. That's because growth hormone is normally released during sleep.

kidshealth.org - Can Lack of Sleep Stunt Your Growth? (for Teens) - Kids Health

My mom says if you stay up all night and don't get any rest you can stunt your growth. Is this true?

– Damien

It could be. A single night of no sleep will not stunt growth. But over the long term, a person's growth may be affected by not getting the full amount of sleep. That's because growth hormone is normally released during sleep. If someone consistently gets too little sleep (known as "sleep deprivation"), growth hormone is suppressed. Lack of sleep also can affect other hormones. Studies show that sleep deprivation is linked to obesity and diabetes. Experts are looking into whether this link has to do with hormonal changes. So in this case your mom may be right. Getting enough sleep also will help you focus better in school and give you more energy and better concentration for sports and other activities.

*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.

Can the government see how much money is in your bank account?

The federal government has no business monitoring small cash deposits and how Americans pay their bills and has no right to snoop around in private...

Last updated Jan 30, 2019