I want to know the answer as well. I have 7 year old twins a boy and a girl. Not sure how to approach that subject .

I never had that conversation except to comment on the fact that he seemed to go through a LOT of tissues.

All I did was to say something like “your balls are going to hurt if you don’t go take care of that” or “dude, you see the size of my right arm?”. Just don’t allow subjects to be taboo. We’re just animals experiencing that form of life.

I've had the conversation. When my son was about ten, he came home from school absolutely disgusted that another boy skipped an entire class period to masturbate to porn in the bathroom. My son was mortified. I simply explained that perhaps the time and place were inappropriate, but that everyone masturbates. He asked, "Really?" and I corrected myself, saying that not everybody does, but everybody should. He was incredulous and wanted to know why. I told him that it gives him a chance to learn his body, it releases all kinds of good hormones, and it's fun!

I didn't want him to grow up with the same kind of body and sexual shame that I was raised with. I've always been straightforward and honest with him, from the very beginning.

Do religious parents tell their kids they can't masturbate versus atheists' parents?

AS IF a kid isn't going to find/try it?
And what, exactly, has learning about one's own body have to do with morality or religion?
Stop helicoptering

Don't in the family room watching tv...just don't. Take care of yourself in private.

My kids are still pretty young, kindergarten and 1st grade, and as a single father with an ex wife who hasn't always been... Consistent... I hace to be very careful how I approach this topic. When they've "explored" in my presence I've told them that it's ok, but to only do it in private when they are alone, and to clean up and wash their hands after. To my knowledge they haven't continued since then. As far as pornography and aides go, I'd say keep it legal. If you find your underage child veiwing porn talk to them in private about the legal ramifications for both them and yourself, and make sure they understand that what they are going through is completely natural. Same if they are sharing nudes. Probably limit their access to cameras and social media. I wouldn't buy ...toys... for them. But if I found they had one I'd either ignore it or if it was in plain view explain to them that they need to be more discrete. If they were getting into truble in other areas in their lifes I might try to find out where it came from and that they have a good understanding of sex ed. Probably the sex ed thing even if none of the above was going on. But like I said, my kids are still young. Most of that was going off my own experiences as a teen.

Three scenarios spring to mind...I remember being with a friend and looking under her brothers bed for a game. We found his porn collection by mistake. He was quite a bit older, mid to late teens. She told her dad and I belive the conversation went along the lines of, 'The magazines need to be kept up high out of our reach'.

I have a friend who went to find some suitable magazines with her husband and left them in a bedroom drawer for their teenage son to, 'find'.

When working with adults with disabilities there always boundaries that touching themselves happens alone in their room and that we should knock on bedroom doors when they are shut.
I'm not a parent, I guess everyone finds their own way, but a bit of help around boundaries never hurts.

Masturbation would be the last thing I would be worried about with a child, seriously. Every child will do it, and I wouldn't want to make them feel weird for doing something totally natural.
When my daughter was entering the age where she had questions, and me being a single dad; I went to the library and got a book that answered those questions, and it was written by someone who was educated and qualified to give the correct answers. It was many years ago, so I don't remember the title or author. I didn't even hand her the book, just left it where she could find it. She picked it up and poured over it for days.

It was one of the best things I could have done. It prevented her being misinformed by peers or preachers.

If they are old enough to ask ie puberty Iam happy to answer and have done as my parents did me. Idont see the problem.

Give them their first porno, think I watched my first one when I was 8. Never turned back. It's a milestone, I'd be proud. If it's my daughter mum can deal with that.