Well first of all you might want to start knocking on her door assuming her behavior is trustworthy. She is old enough to want some privacy. But her behavior should indicate she can handle the responsibly. As far a sex there are books out both for kids and parents on how to broach the subject. There may be videos in the special interest section as well. You may want to sit down and talk with all of the parents in her life and decide what is the best thing to do.

At 8 yrs old? WTH? Someone's growing up a tad too fast.

Your seven year old shouldn't masturbate at that early young age!!!! Do not talk to her about sex so early on, its unnatural!! Your daughter may have been sexually abused by someone, I've just read an article on this. It says that children at a young age that masturbate early may have contact with sexual abuse when they are younger. Sexual abuse by someone such as a grown adult may have caused her to feel those sexual "feelings". That may be why she is touching herself. She needs to stop touching herself. Tell her that its wrong and immoral for her do so. And when she puts her finger down her pants, push them AWAY!!!! It's not that hard!! I find it shocking that you're posting this question, in my opinion, please take her to a pediatrition or ask a psychologist about this. Ask someone, like a professional about this. EDIT: Since I couldn't post any comments below, I do have a piece of mind to say to future_health_educator below me. I am not a mom, heck, I'm not even married. I'm a student. Masturbation is a lot more complex than that, its not what makes us feel good. Girls do not start puberty at an young age such as 7 years old! It's impossible for a girl to start their period at 7 years old! Not all girls feel good abut themselves, even at an early age. Read the question AGAIN: "I don't know if I should teach her about her body or have a talk....." meaning that the parent wants to talk to his/her daughter about sex. I don't think that you should teach her about sex at an early age. She hasn't even started puberty yet! I don't believe that you're an health educator, you need to get your mind off sex!!!

im not saying this as my personal opinion its a fact SHES FAR TOO YOUNG FOR IT at 8 years old her body is still developing, her vagina has berly started to develop as a reproductive tool. even girls at the age of 12 if they masturbate can develop a disease in the clitoris because they have not developed fully, it is not yet built to have anything put in it. If your not going to take that advice up there, its time to teach her the facts of life.

Some people are saying she is too young... Whilst 8 years old is younger than normal..if her body is mature enough to understand what feels good then she is mature enough to masturbate.. there is nothing wrong with her doing it and its good she is exploring her body and getting to know it.. Maybe mention to her mother about it...however if she does not see her mother or is closer to you then yes i suggest you do sit her down and explain about her body to her x

I think at 8 years old, you should probably give her a little time to explore before you come bouncing in with all the sex and masturbation talk. I have a feeling she might be a little overwhelmed by it at her age and maturity level. We have to remember, she is still only 8 years old. Give her some time to come to you first. I would say that 10 would be the youngest you should talk to her. However, I could be way off base, since I am not a parent. This is just my opinion.

I did not say that what should be done is popular its just the right way to go. Yea there are books and videos but instead of guiding your letting some one else guide your kids. Sorry but any parent that try to use books and videos are going to get more questions than answers later. You're the parent not other parents view can help but cause they will say use this video or book. They don't do the parent thing. If you that ashamed or embarrassed of the human body you need to get your head out of that. Who you want to guide your kid you or some author that you have never met. This is the best part of being a parent and you cheapen it when you don't show her your self that its ok. If you have to resort to a book or video she will feel that something is wrong to talk about this topic with her. Then next thing you know she asks some boy that wants to show her and you're a Grandma. By the way doctors have found before baby's are born they masturbate so don't tell me a 7 year old shouldn't. Want the link well you go look it up like I had to. Sorry but Kids at any age are ready to masturbate when they are ready to explore there body. Don't fear the truth for if you do your kids will hate you for it. Be a parent by showing her. Guide her by example. This is the closest you will ever get to your daughter if you don't guide her now she and you will both regret not showing her that you can be a parent she can come to even for the more to some viewed as embarrassing or to others the closest part that a parent and daughter can be without feeling shame. Take a bath with her. Moms do this all the time unless they are ashamed of there body's. She is not going to say your to fat but she will ask questions. This as a mom is a great time for you two to band. Not Pedaphyle again a Pedaphyle is after sex with out permission also called rape. As long as you're a parent guiding her what's the problem. This by the way are tips from a child Therapist. When you seen nudist they have kids with them and there kids run about naked as well. But they ask questions about there sexuality from there parents that talk with them not to a video or book. Some people embarrassed about there body should go to a Nude resort some time. I know off the subject but lets get real hear. You're the kids parent you are there guide not some one down the street get it. Do your blasted job and not pitch it off to some one or thing else.

Wow you think age 8 is to soon are you mad. Hear man is the facts. At age 4 kids ask simple questions you give them simple answers. At age 5 they will ask for more info about this topic you give them the answer with out the bull. At age 6~9 your kids will vary but want the rest of the info they seek. by age 10 if they do not have the facts they are more likely to go ask there friends and they will know less but suggest the wrong ideas. Then they try it and next you know you're a GrandPa or grandma. Look its not just hard for some to talk about but you have to show some backbone for your kids protection. Have the facts people before you put your personal comments in. This person is not you and you have no right to say "Someone's growing up a tad too fast." She is growing up the fact that you don't like the speed is not based on your speed but the step daughter speed. Age run from 5~10 on this subject. She is going the right speed. Want more facts to guide you that's fine. But know your facts that her step daughter and her needs to be close to cover this the right way. Now I have suggested the best direction based on more information than "holeinthewoods" personal view. Want more to let you know my suggestion is not just my own view fine. Hears something no one put up. View by the Department of human Development and family studies. The suggest exactly what I am talking about if you read it the right way. Link http://extension.missouri.edu/xplor/hesguide/humanrel/gh6002.htm Good luck

Man you are all so naïve. No I am not from mars. I do not have time to give you a history lesson but yes if you did not hear about it in your school then it must not be true. Yes that's right if you was not told this in your school then I must have made this all up. Do you read. people. I am not making this up do I have to give you all 6000 links on this so you can start to learn. The bible talks about this and yes teaching your kids about there sexuality is talked about. Do you not read the blasted bible or are you so naïve to only hear what they talk about in the church. From the beginning kids learn from there parents. Want proof start reading. I will give you a tip to prevent you must in power your kids with what you know. I did not say it would be easy but it will be. Remember boys and girls. if you start talking about sex drug at age 15 your kids and you will be excruciating embarrassed by this. The sooner the talk the better talks go from that point on. why because by age 15 they know about it and they don't think you know enough to guide them any more. Remember age 8. Now if you talk from age 8~10 you will both feel good about the talk. What's the big thing with you. Are you that embarrassed about you or them being sexual. Well to bad boys and girls your kids are sexual and you ether get use to it or do nothing and find out later that I was providing you with the correct information. I want you to remember something. I did try to help you out hear. I would think that the information would help you out but its clear that all you think about is molesters. Let me guess you just have been molested your self. Well I am sorry to hear that but get over your self this is about your kid and I am not a molester. I just know that the sooner you start guiding your kids about sexual interest the less chance a child molester has to win. Stop for a sec. Just stop for one darn sec and think about this. Put your ego aside. Try to understand something. If your kids knows about what they are asking with out the stupid parents ego. would they be safer. Now before you say no hear hear this. Fact is in France. No I am not from France. The Child molester and rapes is lower than any place in the world. Why!!!! Do you know why or do you even care about your blasted kid Marsha. Do you even care about another parents kid.. Would you step up if you knew someone was doing wrong or know what wrong is any more? would you. Well the kids in France are told by there parents as I am informed about sex much sooner. They even are more open with there sexuality. This scares child molesters witch. Not one myself but let me inform you about what you know so little about. Child molesters are sick because they look for what you and my kids are asking for and when they find that one thing that opens the door for them to walk in they will exploit it. Witch is why France has a lower Child molest rate. Looking it up its on the web. They have nude beaches yet there rape and Child molesting rates are lower than the U.S.A. Then to Really tick you off last year the rates dropped even more. WHy!!! is it because they allowed nude beaches all over. No!!! Guess again. Because they found how to find them using DNA.. NO!!! Guess again. Because they can walk in public nude with out the cops arresting you for it.. YES!!! Fact is the more your naked it takes away the power of the Flipping molesters. Now I bet you think I made that up well you go look it up prove me wrong. I did my research and after looking at all the facts its simple. Now I would rather tell my kids about sex and how good it feels and even guide my kids in a safe controlled place that I know they will learn with out being taken advantage of than sitting back and giving each person I see the eye is that a molester?? You cant tell who they are and funny thing the talk about disturbed ideas the same as you do. But they do one thing that is the same. They want you to not tell your kids about her sexuality so that they can open her to it. You all must be the most naïve bunch of people in the world to think you tell your kids nothing and let them find out for them self. Tell you what hold on to that thought and when she gets raped at age 12~15 by some guy name bob or Jim. Then you can say oh that's what that guy was trying to warn me about. I thought he was a ******* Molester but he was trying to just help me and my kid out. Wow who on earth would just try to help another out. Ma be I know just a bit more about this subject than you do clearly. How you did not know kids at age even lesser than 8 masturbate and some of you did not even know that is shameful and you view your info useful for a parent. Did you know that kids think about sex just as much as parents do and it starts at age 5~10. they don't know all the info but they try to get it. How you want to tell them a molester or from you. That's the real question you have to ask yourself. What is better your kid get the information from you or them. I say it again. I would rather it be me. Protect your kids man even if you fear sex yourself make sure they have this information to protect them.

Tell you what Do nothing as these quacks say. Just sit back and do nothing. I will be hear to read the outcome on that one.

AlcoholicAnonymous you should not talk about stuff then that you know nothing about. Kids at age 5 are masturbating this is a medical fact. She needs guidance not a view from a none parenting person that is just voicing an opinion with out facts to back there stuff up. I have facts to back me up. I hate people that put there 2 cents in with out any facts about the subject. People like you kill people. Get facts then make your input in. She did not want your blasted opinion she wanted facts from parents who have ether had or is well versed in child psycolagist. With facts to back it up. Her step daughter will only go to her about this if she feels safe with her step mom. That I do not know but most kids expect the grownups to set the direction when it comes to this. If you don't sit with her she will think something is wrong with her. Guiding your kid is the parents job not the school not the state not the person next door. YOU!! Sorry to hear that you have to voice your input with out facts to back it up. Facts people. if your going to give advice have facts to back it up. Girls know it feels good to do this boys and girls. They just don't know if its ok to do it. Tips is good to prevent thing you found. Like I was informed that this girl used a hair iron once and plugged it in. Bad idea she got burned. Tips some soup is bad to use when you masturbate it can sting and burn. Tip. Sweet things should not be put in that area like candy pops. Yes people tips things you know she may ask what to use you suggest things that you know are good. Is it that bad to suggest things that are bad. Tip in the shower water in that area is good. Just some tips give her direction to prevent things that girls do try. Never ignore this ask her things. Now yes a toy may be brought up when the time comes up. That may be now or later. A girl friend told me her sister who was older bought her sister age 8 a vibrator after she found out she was using hers. Nothing wrong with this its part of growing up. There mom found out like a week later doing cleaning. Know what she did. put a pack of AA batteries in the drawer next to the toy. Mom got a reaction from her daughter it went like this. Thanks mom with a hope I am not in trouble smile. Mom told her with a hug and a kiss any time sweaty. Let me know what you need a new pack. They talk more open from that point on about questions she had. Growing up to fast for you maybe but not to fast for her.

Dumb. hear is an example of a parent doing nothing and just telling there kid to do this in privet. The first thing is the kid in a child minds way is asking for some guidance but what does her pediatrician tell her. "Tell her to do it in private" Then is asked to leave. She has now made something wonderful into something she just ignoring. Later she does it again but now more in your face. This is a kid asking for some guidance yet every one ignores her. Kids need guidance not control. http://www.medhelp.org/forums/ChildBehavior/messages/32573.html Now why do I say guide your child. Why do I say help her. When she knows that its normal she wont freak out. If you gang up on her with all the adults she is going to freak out. The mom of the house that's you. as the same sex. Sorry but this is facts. She will trust and not feel funny. But you get all the adults and she will freak out and start masturbating in public. Stop hiding from your job people. My family is in the medical field with PHD's and Doctors and pediatricians. I am telling you with a lot of background be her friend hear. Guide her and instruct her. If your not a parent or have any medical insight your comments is with out foundation or bases. I have both. Ha Elphaba you want your Step Daughter to be your friend? If you do Take my advice. Conflict with more than one parent will only create more problems. She will hate you most of all. Why oh my gosh. DO I have to spell it out for you. you're a girl. She cant ask her dad about her body now can she. Its strange to do that. But you have to take things slow or she wonder what's up. Be friend and guide her before she starts getting infections in that area. Guiding your kid when she is exploring her sexuality is a gift you give her by teaching her what to avoid. She will do it any way and guiding her will keep you out of the Doc office. You don't want her to have a urinary tract infections. You don't want inappropriate behavior. You need to take this info I have put up with facts Be the parent. Then again don't take me series do it your way and watch out for the whiplash. It is normal for her to masturbate but so fare all of you has the wrong reaction that does not help the kid hear. May make you all feel better but Elphaba step daughter has shown she wants to know what this is and Elphaba or any parent for that matter has to guide there kids. Just because you all don't like that kids are starting to explore sooner and yes want to explore. When will you kids ever learn you're the kid now she's the adult.

Well no one dose this masturbating at 8 Years old right. Well try this on for size. even infants have been observed masturbating. Age is not the factor its more important not to freak her out. Not more than one parent talk with her about this. Tell you what look at this web topic. Yea right 8 years old is to young to masturbate. Check this out New and out of touch with reality. http://parenting.ivillage.com/tp/tpdevelopment/0,,3q9m,00.html

It is completely normal for a child to masterbate, although not all do, and there is NO age that is too young. Many pediatricians will tell you to ignore the behavior so that it is percieved by the child as normal, then they won't feel shameful. Has someone told her it's wrong maybe? Being your step daughter, I would suggest bringing it to the attention to the actual parents. Not all would appreciate you dealing with this without their input. Just a suggestion.

Pandora is right as well. Remember your step daughter needs to know its ok. I still suggest you should teach her about her body after all kids learn by example that's what they say. Then again do nothing and she will start to explore with boys next. have your self a 12 year old with a baby on the way. Yea kids need guidance sooner than most people think. Most say age 14 but at age 14 she has already tried something and if you would like to be a loving step mom you could watch some of the signs that she wants your input. Like do you hug if not then if she starts to hug she may be getting feelings that she wants you to help with. So she can understand better. Then again I may just know nothing and she will find some boy and its to late to take action any more.

give her another year or so before you talk about the birds and the bees. and before you enter her room knock 1st. and if you caught her dont make it seem like its bad. tell her is a normal part of being human

I say let her explore her own sexuality. Don't make her feel uncomfortable about it. Let her know that it is natural and she will figure it all out for herself in time, but tell her not to be ashamed to talk to you if she has any questions.

she is a child who is discovering her body and is going to hit puberty soon......you should teach her to do this in private in her room behind a locked door.....she is just growing up, and all of this is normal.........take care....Brian.....

I remember masturbating around this age.It was not until I was ten that mom caught me. They did talk to me and told not to be embarrass by it. My mom told me alot of people do it even those that wont admit it to it. She also told me that I need to do it in private and if I ever I need to something just come to her.She also said when I got older If I wanted she buy some things that would help. My mom was so helpful and guided me through .I am sure this was over the line but my mom and I even masturbated together. We didnt touch each other.I just watch her masturbate and did what she did. I found that so helpful. So I would talk to her and do it frequently You may not need to go to the limits my mom did but whatever you decide lether go through years of feeling ashame that something come naturally.

first of all shaunixie are you a docter your talking like she should be ashamed of her body its okay for someone to be curious and i think it is up to the parents to decide when they want to talk to their kids about the facts of life besides girls develope earlier its perfectly natural to masturbate

Of course she's embarrassed. Having parents walk in while masturbating is an awkward experience, because self-stimulation is a private behavior. Be glad that she knows how to be discreet, and show her the same consideration by knocking before you enter her room.

Kids should be elft to find out about there body despite there age, iterfearing will not help, im a parent myself and my wife is a Nurse and out of all the poeple i know she knows whats best for a childs devolopment having worked with children, pregnant woman ect and, our kids are growing up and we have to let them learn about themselves as well as the facts of life, so i owuld talk to her about it and explain, i seriosuly disagree with al lthe other answers, not letting her express herself and devolop like a normal healthy little girl will have traumartising effects on her in the near future