Dear Family Coach: My daughters are 6 and 8 years old. They have been begging us to make videos of them to post on YouTube. Are they too young? — YouTube Wannabes' Parents

Dear Parents: Yes! They are too young. I'm wondering why your kids want you to do that. Have they been watching endless hours of viral videos made by other children? Do they have visions of being famous? Do they want to impress their friends with a high number of views? Unless your children are exceedingly gifted and you are looking to launch a career for them (and even then I would be cautious) there is no benefit to making videos of such young children for public consumption.

There is a bigger issue here, though. Your children have been exposed to a culture of "likes." In the modern age, people share pictures and videos to get positive feedback and affirmation (likes) from others. The problem is that likes are intoxicating. Some children who may not have the strongest self-esteem and are susceptible to peer pressure are often encouraged to post things online for the sake of likes without understanding all the implications. Don't give them early entrance into the culture of likes. Build up their sense of self-worth so they don't look for confirmation from the outside.

YouTube videos are shared around the world. They can be downloaded, copied and tampered with, and they are often online permanently. Children cannot possibly give consent to this — even if they have a strong desire to post online — because they don't truly understand the consequences. Let your kids be free from public view, at least for now. If you can't resist the pressure, start a private YouTube page for friends and family.

Dear Family Coach: My daughter is 6, and she always has her hand in her pants. When I say always, I mean always . It's embarrassing and inappropriate. How alarmed should I be, and what can I do to stop this behavior? — Confused Mama

Dear Confused: If Sigmund Freud were here, he would use your daughter as an example to explain his theory of psychosexual stages. She is exhibiting classic, age-appropriate behavior. From infancy through preschool, children learn how their bodies work. They learn about the joy of sucking and eating, and then comes the excitement of potty training. Eventually they figure out that there is pleasure to be had in one's pants. Your daughter has clearly learned this already. She is enjoying something that feels good without any understanding of the stigma placed on masturbation. This is completely natural.

The challenge is to teach her that masturbation is a normal exploration of the body without shaming her or sending the message that her actions are wrong. Start by explaining the concept of private parts and why we keep them private. Then, tell her that she is allowed to see and touch her own body, but there is an appropriate time and place. When she is alone in the bathroom or her bedroom, she should feel free to explore. Also, let her know that you are available to talk openly with her if she ever has any questions about her body. Whenever you see her with her hands in her pants, quietly remind her that she isn't alone in her room.

Dr. Catherine Pearlman, the founder of The Family Coach, LLC, advises parents on all matters of child rearing. To write to Dr. Pearlman, send her an email at questions@thefamilycoach.com. To find out more about Dr. Catherine Pearlman and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.