This article was co-authored by Paul Chernyak, LPC. Paul Chernyak is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Chicago. He graduated from the American School of Professional Psychology in 2011. This article has been viewed 530,642 times.

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To stop your child from masturbating in public, try positive approaches, like providing distractions or encouraging positive behaviors, rather than punishing them. For example, give your child a blanket or stuffed animal as a security object. This way, they can keep their hands occupied whenever you’re in public. If they’re older, consider getting them a fidget box to play with. At home, have a discussion with your child about the behavior and use a tone that doesn’t make them feel ashamed. Explain that there’s nothing wrong with what they’re doing, just the location, and let them know they can masturbate in a private area or bathroom at home. For more help from our Mental Health co-author, including how to punish your child if they don’t follow your rules about masturbation, read on.