A: Children this age are very curious about the human body and most will likely play "doctor." Many parents overreact when they witness or hear of such behavior, so don't fret that you did anything out of the ordinary. Heavy-handed scolding is NOT the way to deal with the situation. Nor should parents feel this will lead to promiscuity.
I'm not sure what you did, but next time you may wish to direct your daughter's attention to another activity without making a lot of fuss. Later, sit down with your daughter and talk. Explain that although you understand her interest in her friend's body, she is getting to be a big girl and people are generally expected to keep their bodies covered in public. This way you have set limits without having made her feel guilty.
This is also the appropriate age to begin to talk about good and bad touch. Tell your daughter that her body is her own and that she has the right to privacy. No one should touch her if she doesn't like it or want it. Tell her that if anyone ever touches her in a way that feels strange or bad, she should tell that person to stop it and then tell you about it. Explain that you want to know about anything that makes her feel bad or uncomfortable. Hang in there…you still have the teenage years to look forward to!
