When my daughter was four, I took her with me to see a proctologist. She had visited doctors with me before but had never seen me examined from such an unusual angle, so I decided to tell her ahead of time what to expect. She accepted my explanation easily, so I didn?t expect any awkward issues. But when we arrived at the office, my daughter announced loudly to a friendly looking woman in the waiting room: ?Mommy is going to see the tushy doctor so that he can look at her tushy and make sure that Mommy is healthy.? I don?t know which was harder to endure: going through the actual examination or looking that person in the eye.
Three- and four-year-olds haven?t yet developed filters to avoid sharing too much information with others. For the most part, it?s delightful?their candor might even make us chuckle. But occasionally, it goes too far. Some preschoolers emulate Little Red Riding Hood, telling strangers what their names are, where they live and where they?re going next. (As long as preschoolers are having these conversations in front of their parents?which they typically are?it?s fairly harmless to share information with strangers, but it can feel inappropriate.) Others share graphic descriptions of what they?ve done in the bathroom. And others still, including my daughter, are prone to telling anyone and everyone sensitive details from private conversations. Why are kids all about TMI"
Although some of what your preschooler says might make you blush, she doesn?t r...