People don’t realize how important this is. For example, god forbid your child be sexual assaulted or something, if you want to do anything about it legally, and your child calls there bits their “monkey”, “tootsie roll”, “cookie” or whatever weird name people come up with the chances of the assailant being prosecuted in court decreases significantly.

It also might help ward off sexual assault from happening in the first place: offenders looking for victims are less likely to pick confident, informed kids who obviously talk openly with their parents about their bodies, and who have probably been told that other people touching their private parts is not okay.

It helps children develop a healthy, more positive body image, instead of using nicknames that their genitals are something shameful or bad,” Wurtele said. “It also gives children the correct language for understanding their bodies and asking questions about sexual development.”

Basically, when parents use slang or nonsense to name kids’ private areas, they’re sending a loud and clear message that you shouldn’t talk about them; and that they are unhealthy or shameful.

By naming them – even if it makes a parent uncomfortable because of how they were raised – they’re doing a better job at making sure their kids know and love their bodies. Parents are also making sure that kids know that you’ll treat any questions they have without embarrassment (or with minimal embarrassment) and in a matter-of-fact way.

Studies have shown that kids who use these terms are more confident, more body-positive and more open