Beware: this post may contain too much information!
I started masturbating with my mother's vibrator as soon as I found it and realized what it was for. Around age 13. Before that, I used some... well let's just say random household objects. Many kids know what's up; and many are like me, relentless snoops, and/or fairly innovative. I figured out where my dad hid his girly mags when I was about 10. Same with mom's "special undies". I would try them on and look at the magazines while they were at work and I was supposed to be doing homework. I never thought about a vibrator, and it was in a different drawer than the undies. One day I found it while looking for something else... regular socks, I think.
In my family we didn't (and in fact, still don't) talk about sex, sexuality, our bodies, etc. In the event that I were to end up with teenagers in my house, I'd likely be way more up front, and sex-positive (of course with the parents' permission). If a teenage girl/daughter-figure came to me asking about such things, I'd educate her to the best of my abilities and to the extent that her parent(s) were comfortable and if she asked me to help her obtain a vibrator or dildo, I would (with folks' permission) help her research the best one for her and pick it up for her, if for no other reason than to keep her from using mine! I feel like going to a grown up --whether it be a parent or a trusted family friend and asking to have a frank discussion about sexuality is a pretty good sign that the kid is ready to engage in such a discussion, and truthful, accurate information about the pros/cons of whatever is discussed should be made available to the person on an age-appropriate basis.
Not that I don't love who I am now, but there would have been a lot less trial-and-error in getting here if I'd been raised in a different environment.
I agree with oohlookasquirrel. It's not a matter of "letting" kids do anything. They'll do what they're gonna do. It ought to be about providing kids with relevant information as they grow up, so that they know what's real and what's not. I would also say that if you find your vibrator, electric toothbrush or electric razor eating through batteries at an alarming rate, and have a teenage daughter (or maybe even son), it might be an appropriate time to bring up or revisit the subject of masturbation.
I started masturbating with my mother's vibrator as soon as I found it and realized what it was for. Around age 13. Before that, I used some... well let's just say random household objects. Many kids know what's up; and many are like me, relentless snoops, and/or fairly innovative. I figured out where my dad hid his girly mags when I was about 10. Same with mom's "special undies". I would try them on and look at the magazines while they were at work and I was supposed to be doing homework. I never thought about a vibrator, and it was in a different drawer than the undies. One day I found it while looking for something else... regular socks, I think.
In my family we didn't (and in fact, still don't) talk about sex, sexuality, our bodies, etc. In the event that I were to end up with teenagers in my house, I'd likely be way more up front, and sex-positive (of course with the parents' permission). If a teenage girl/daughter-figure came to me asking about such things, I'd educate her to the best of my abilities and to the extent that her parent(s) were comfortable and if she asked me to help her obtain a vibrator or dildo, I would (with folks' permission) help her research the best one for her and pick it up for her, if for no other reason than to keep her from using mine! I feel like going to a grown up --whether it be a parent or a trusted family friend and asking to have a frank discussion about sexuality is a pretty good sign that the kid is ready to engage in such a discussion, and truthful, accurate information about the pros/cons of whatever is discussed should be made available to the person on an age-appropriate basis.
Not that I don't love who I am now, but there would have been a lot less trial-and-error in getting here if I'd been raised in a different environment.
I agree with oohlookasquirrel. It's not a matter of "letting" kids do anything. They'll do what they're gonna do. It ought to be about providing kids with relevant information as they grow up, so that they know what's real and what's not. I would also say that if you find your vibrator, electric toothbrush or electric razor eating through batteries at an alarming rate, and have a teenage daughter (or maybe even son), it might be an appropriate time to bring up or revisit the subject of masturbation.
