Doctor (children's game)

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Doctor, Playing doctor, or Doctors and nurses is a children's game linked to sexual curiosity. Typically in such a game, children play roles of doctor and patient, using the imaginary clinical setting as a pretext to examine one another.^{[citation needed]}

The game is not meant to be sexual and most children playing it aren't aware that what they are doing may seem suspicious to parents.

It is seen by most as a common part of normal sexual development and anatomical curiosity between ages three and five, but is a source of discomfort to some parents. Parenting professionals^[who?] often advise parents to use the discovery their child has been playing doctor to calmly explain the differences between the sexes, and to teach them about modesty, as most societies do not condone nudity, and some children may wish to touch or poke others against their will unless taught otherwise.

Some children also pretend to operate on stuffed animals and dolls sometimes, not even being involved with sexual activity.

[edit] External links

• SEX PLAY: parenting strategies by Dr. Marilyn Heins
• "Why Your Child Plays Doctor" on Fisher-Price Parenting Solutions