Let’s talk about penis size in children, as we get a lot of questions about it in my free Facebook sex education group for parents, that parent group. From parents who worry as their child’s penis is either a lot smaller (or bigger) than other children.

So this blog post will answer a lot of your questions about penis size in children, tweens and teens. And it will be relevant regardless of whether your child’s penis is small, large or average!

When does the penis start growing?

When the penis will start to grow, will depend on your child’s ethnicity, age, when puberty started for them, and their current stage of puberty. So it is hard to give an exact age, as it is different for every child.

But usually, the penis will start to change in size sometime between the ages of eleven and sixteen years (sometimes a couple of years earlier for some children). And it will take several years for this to happen. I talk in detail about what changes will happen to their genitals (and when) in The Parent’s Guide to Puberty. I believe that when you (the parent) know what to expect, it is easier to support your child so they thrive during puberty (not just survive).

So some eleven year olds will still have a child-sized penis whereas other eleven year olds will have a penis that is already growing wider and longer. And some fifteen years olds will still have a child-sized penis whereas other fifteen year olds will have an adult-sized penis.

This means most kids will have a child-sized penis until partway through puberty.

I also want to point out that it isn’t helpful to compare penis size between siblings, as we all develop differently. Would you be concerned if there was a big difference in breast size between siblings? Probably not.

Now, puberty is a time of great change. Where your child’s body will be doing a lot of changing and growing. It is also a time when a lot of kids will worry about whether their body is normal (or not). They also compare what is happening in their body with what they see in their friends. And they often worry when their body changes at a different pace to their peers.

As a parent, your child may need reassurance about their body (and penis) as they go through puberty. Remind them that their body knows what to do, and it will know when it’s time to start changing. It will also change at its own pace, which may be different from what happens with their friends. They just have to be patient and wait for it to happen. And by the time they finish their schooling, they will have a fully grown adult body (just like their friends).

When does the penis stop growing?

This is a really common question for tweens and teens. Their penis has started to change and grow but because changes happen slowly, they don’t know if they’ve reached their adult size, or still have some more growing to do.

The penis will usually have reached its final adult size between the ages of 18 to 21. For some kids tough, it might be fully grown by the age of 14.

Can you make a penis bigger?

A common question from tweens and teens is whether they can do anything to make their penis grow bigger.

The simple answer is no. They can’t do anything to make their penis grow any bigger.

Unless they want to have penis enlargement surgery (where they can make a non-erect penis longer or wider). A vacuum pump will only help with erections (and not make the penis larger). Testosterone supplements will not spur additional growth either. And there are a lot of unscrupulous businesses selling pills, lotions, and devices to make penises bigger (which don’t work).

So penis enlargement methods do work but they are a waste of time and money as they don’t work, some are harmful and if there are any changes, they are only temporary.

What is the average penis size?

I don’t like to talk about average penis size, as I believe it is a measurement that encourages people to be unhappy with their penis. So I’m not going to share an average measurement.

But I do want to bust a few myths about penis size instead…

Do people with bigger feet have bigger penises? No, there isn’t any reliable research to prove that.

Is penis size related to ethnicity or sexual orientation? No, there is no reliable research to prove that.

Do taller people have longer penises? Some studies have found a relationship between penis length and height.

Does an index finger shorter than a ring finger mean you’ll have a longer penis? Some studies have found a relationship between digit ratio and adult penile size.

Is penis size genetic? It is, as genetics are the most important predictor of your penis size. Just as your eye and skin color are determined by your hereditary factors, so too is your penis size. But it isn’t a reliable indicator as there are two sets of genes to consider here. One set is from the person who provided the sperm, and the other set of genes is from the person who provided the egg. But I don’t think it’s a reliable indicator, as your child may have the same size penis as their father (or the person who provided the sperm), but they may not either!

Does penis size matter?

Honestly? Penis size doesn’t matter.

It really only matters to the person who owns the penis. And many penis owners worry about size, believing their penis isn’t large enough, and that it is smaller than other penises. When it usually isn’t!

I’ve also found that many tweens and teens are expecting the changes that puberty will make to their penis, to happen a lot sooner than it should. So they just need to be patient and wait for ‘mother nature’ to do it’s thing.

Your child’s penis will work the same as other penises (regardless of size). The size of their penis has nothing to do with how good sex can feel, or their performance in the bedroom. And there is a lot more to sex than penetration. Intimacy and feeling connected is what makes good sex happen.

And I agree with what this psychology academic has to say about penis size. That people would be a lot less anxious about their penis size if researchers and the media would stop quoting average penis lengths (as most of the research on size is unreliable). He also found that people who believed they had a small penis were wrong, as most of the time their penis was a normal size.

When should I worry about a small penis?

Look, I’ll be blunt…

A lot of parents worry about their child’s penis. They worry that their child’s penis is too small, and they’ll be teased about it by their friends. That their sexual partners may feel it’s “inadequate” and they won’t have enjoyable sexual relationships.

Most of the time, there isn’t a need to be worried.

Sometimes your concerns are too soon. As the penis won’t begin to grow and change until partway through puberty. This could start as young as eleven, with some children starting a few years earlier, but some penises won’t begin to grow until children are sixteen years of age

Every child is different. And just like some adults have smaller or larger penises than others, so do children.

So I wouldn’t be too worried about it, as diversity (or a range of sizes) is to be expected in penises.

But if you are in doubt, then you should talk to your family doctor. You should also talk to them if your child hasn’t shown any physical signs of puberty by the age of fourteen, so they can investigate why.

Does my child have a micropenis?

You’re not alone if you are worried about your child having a micropenis. I typed ‘micro penis’ into google, and discovered that 673,000 people a month are also searching for information. That’s a lot of people worried about penis size!

Micropenis is a rare condition where the penis is much smaller than expected. If your child was born in a hospital, or at home with a midwife or doctor, then it would have already been spotted. Midwives and doctors always do a visual head-to-toe examination of a newborn (including the genitals) to check that everything is okay. If they think the penis is unusually small, they would then refer your child to a specialist for assessment and potentially treatment. Micropenis can happen on it’s own, but there are often other underlying health issues. Which is why it is always looked for in all newborns with a penis.

So if your child has a micropenis, you would probably already know about it.

If your child missed out on this head-to toe newborn assessment, and you are concerned they have a micropenis, then please talk to your family doctor.

Does my child have a buried penis?

A buried penis (or hidden penis) is when skin and fat from the scrotum, abdomen, or thigh bury a penis, making it look smaller than it is. The penis is usually “normal” in length but appears shorter. Buried penis is often present at birth but can occur at any age.

If you’re concerned that your child has a buried penis, please talk to your family doctor.

How do I support my child to be happy with their penis?

This can be tricky as we live in a society that jokes about penis sizes, and where a larger penis is seen as a trophy to brag about, and smaller penises are something to be ashamed of. So your child is going to receive negative messages about penis size whether you like it (or not).

The best way to support your child is to have lots of conversations! So whenever you notice a negative message about bodies or sex, start a conversation bout it. Share it with your child and talk about what it means and what you believe about it. For example, you hear them on the radio make a joke about how ‘guys with small dicks drive big flash cars’ (or that ‘someone with a big dick is a stud’). Point it out to your child and share what you feel about those jokes and how harmful they are.

You also need to be talking about diversity all the time i.e. everyone is different and that’s okay. The more you talk about the differences in our bodies, then the more likely your child is going to grow up feeling positive about their body (and penis size). Plus they are going to be less judgemental and more accepting of differences in other people’s bodies too!

There are also some resources to assist with this in the resource list at the bottom of the page.

You can monitor your own language about body image. When children see parents feeling positive about their own bodies, it helps kids to be more accepting of their own body too! Children are very sensitive to messages about body image and appearance from their parents. Often you may not even be aware of the messages your child is hearing from you. As parents, you can have a very positive impact on the way your child feels about the way they look and their self esteem.

Here are some tips from The Butterfly Foundation on ways you can be a good body image role model for your child:

• Love and accept your own body. This may not be easy but being aware of your attitude towards your own body will help you be conscious of the messages you send to your kids.
• Try to avoid looking in the mirror and making negative comments about the way you look. If your child sees that you feel comfortable and happy with your body, this can help them feel comfortable in their own skin.
• Don’t talk about diets. Dieting is the biggest risk factor for an eating disorder. Try to avoid talking about diets, your “naughty” eating habits, or your weight and size. This can give kids the impression that weight and size are highly valued by you and they might feel pressure to look a certain way or be a certain size. Celebrate diversity and emphasise how loved and valued your child is no matter what their weight, shape or size.
• Talk to your child about the way they feel about the way they look. Encourage your child to talk with you about their feelings. Create space to talk about things on a daily basis including what is happening with their friends. If your child feels safe to talk to you, then they are likely to share feelings about their bodies with you.

Suggestions from other parents in what to talk about

So what can you do as a parent to support your child in being happy with the body (and penis) they have?

I am going to turn to my free Facebook sex education group for parents, that parent group, and share what other parents have found helpful.

Try a scientific approach. ‘If he’s truly looking for the concrete “why” and a “reason” so to say I would discuss more about genetics and how genetics impact our bodies and personalities and speak to the science of it.’ . OR this one, ‘Maybe go down the scientific route. Our physical traits are a result of our DNA. Our DNA is a combination of our ancestors DNA. Some traits are due to environmental factors but generally physical traits are inherited. Consider getting an age appropriate Genetics book or YouTube.’

Are they looking for advice or a listening ear? ‘Since you’ve tried the “all bodies are different” approach…I would instead ask if he’s looking for advice or just a listening ear. I would consider just hearing his thoughts on it. Providing empathy and validation that’s he’s allowed to have his thoughts and feelings on this. That all thoughts and feelings are ok and that it’s ok to feel insecure about some of these things and to question our own traits. In the same conversation I would reassure him that you think he’s an amazing human being and that you will always be head to listen to his thoughts and concerns.’

Ask why they think they need a bigger penis. ‘Would it help if you ask him why he thinks he needs a bigger penis? What good is a bigger penis going to do for a kid? Maybe some good old logic will snap him out of it? 🤷🏻‍♀️ Also- talk about visual perspective. Penises don’t grow a lot before puberty. So the same size penis would look much bigger on a small body, on a bigger body out would appear smaller. But my main line of thought is – it doesn’t matter. They’re not using them to break pinatas or anything.’

Ask people to not makes jokes about penis size (when they do it). ‘For starters, grandma needs to stop making the weird creepy genitalia jokes stat. He can pick up on the jokes and that’s plenty enough to cause reasonable insecurity.’

Another comment about jokes and teasing. ‘The best thing you can do is correct anyone around you who body shames at all in front of your child. I used to make small dick jokes like when men would be super gross until someone pointed out to me that they are body shaming. So now I call people out for making jokes like that. But I mean any body shaming. Someone makes a comment or joke about being fat, “we don’t talk about people’s bodies like that” etc. this will set a precedent for your son that we don’t judge people for their bodies and we don’t base our feelings about people on their bodies. If you do this it will be weird to him when others do and open that up for more discussion if he encounters this. The rule in my house is we don’t insult people based on their bodies, no matter how awful they are. We are grateful for our bodies and all the amazing things they can do and nothing about our bodies is “wrong” or insufficient. People will find reasons to tease others for a million reasons about their bodies so just generally instilling that that is wrong and nobody’s body is wrong will serve him better than trying to specifically instill anything about his penis specifically.’

When talking about sex and pleasure. ‘When the time comes to talk about sex and pleasure (if you are an open and sex positive family) I would put emphasis on alternative forms of sex rather than just penetration. I presume a lot of shame around having a small penis comes from concerns around sexual pleasure. Obviously, when children are younger, it’s usually very factual- “sex is when a penis is inserted into a vagina etc.” but the conversation never seems to move past that, which puts a lot of pressure on penises being “big enough”. However, I’m sure most people would agree there’s plenty of ways to have enjoyable sex without ever involving a penis!’ I’m not really sure of an age-appropriate way to explain this or when it should be discussed to be honest, but just some food for thought.’

Body positivity and acceptance. ‘Just like we can teach consent to littles without talking about sex, the same goes for body positivity/acceptance before we apply it to genitalia. I think reading books that emphasize body positivity & valuing differences will be a great foundation, & then you can layer on it as you go. Also, having conversations that de-emphasize the gender binary & relationship between genitalia & gender can be useful so that there isn’t an underlying idea that “all boys are like this”, “all girls are like that” will be helpful. (So many book resources for this!) This is great for trans inclusiveness, but also if you know that boys can have vaginas & a penis isn’t what makes manhood & masculinity (if that is who your child is), then that should have some protective factors as he ages & receives other messages about what makes a man too, I would think. I do think it’s about laying down a foundation that can be added to as he ages. The more direct conversations can come later.’

Regulate emotions. ‘I also think helping our children to be able to regulate their emotions helps with all of this. Feelings of shame, embarrassment, etc are all emotions just passing through if we’re able to feel them. Having one or more parents / adults around them who are ok with these emotions helps our little ones to be ok with them too.’

A perspective from a dad. ‘I think you have many more years before this becomes a concern, if at all, and probably the worst possible thing you could do is to draw more attention to it than is warranted (which is really none, at this stage). I was a very late developer as a teen and went through a lot of the same things with locker rooms, etc. As much as you might like to help, there’s really nothing you can do as a parent in that situation (even if it does happen, which there is NO guarantee that it will) that won’t just make it worse and cause him to overthink it even more.
I second the idea of just affirming him as a whole person, whatever his gender identity. I will also point out that a “very small” penis is, statistically, not what most people think it is. Medical studies have confirmed the average adult penis length is much smaller than most people think it is (the data are very easily Google-able). What people may see depicted of penis size in various forms of… media is not in any way an accurate representation of the population as a whole. It seems as though you have a positive sexual relationship with your husband and have had a child together, and in all likelihood, if your son desires a similar arrangement when he is old enough, he will do the same. The hang-ups about society’s reactions to it can be painful – I’ve been there – but among real-life mature adults it is much less of a big deal than teenagers in locker rooms make it out to be.’

Attitudes are changing. ‘I’ve noticed gen z is very accepting and open-minded, even more so than millennials lately.. they’re very much supportive of body positivity, lgbtq+ , mental health, etc so you might be pleasantly surprised by the generation he grows up with not minding or caring much about your sons size much like people would’ve been socially in the 90s and early 2000s.’

Another comment about changing attitudes. ‘I think they’ll grow up in a generation where it will make less of a difference. Bullies will find anything and any type of physical deviation is easy to target. Genetalia is becoming less taboo and while historically there’s tons of nude art, the last 100 years have been extremely prudish and diversity has been lost. A lot of porn only shows one body type but more and more ethical porn companies are being inclusive.’

It is quality not quantity that matters. ‘So I’ve had a few partners and my husband is the smallest by far. He’s also the only one that has gotten me to orgasm every single time we’ve had sex. Lol. Size has always been a non issue and has literally never come up in conversation either. My husband was always in sports and locker rooms too- and np issues with teasing at all. I imagine I am one of the younger parents here, so I agree with what others have said about the younger generation not placing value on that kind of stuff. I wouldn’t worry too much about it, personally.’

A comment from a parent with a small penis themself. ‘As a male with a smaller penis, I also struggled with this issue. This is what I did for myself, to help overcome the anxieties, especially when it came time for sexual intimacy with partners. Another member mentioned that literature suggests the “average size” (length or girth) is much smaller than one may think. I also did this research on my own. This bolstered my confidence a bit. I recognize the toxic masculinity about size, and surely porn doesn’t help when most male porn actors seem to have very long and wide penises. Also, I came to accept this is who I am, and the body I was given. When I started dating and becoming intimate with girlfriends, I wouldn’t even mention my anxiety about size. And not one girlfriend ever mentioned an issue either. I also learned that pleasuring my female partners require more than a long or wide penis. I learned about female anatomy, emotional intimacy, and bonding, through reading and some documentaries I found. It all helped boost my confidence. I hope this is helpful.’

People with large penises are also worried. ‘I just want to say, guys born with huge ones are often embarrassed as well…. it’s a common thing for ANYONE to dislike their body, we always want what we don’t have. I would just forget about size and work on loving his body no matter what, not just the ween but the whole damn thing!’

Talk about diversity in bodies. ‘I feel like this concern is a great reason to talk about and expose your child to all kinds of different bodies, not just genitals. Just like every penis is different, vulvas are all different shapes, sizes and colors. There’s a huge variety in height, weight, skin tone, eye color, hair color, body proportions (like I have very long legs and my partner has a long torso), body abilities, etc. and every body is perfect the way it is, and some bodies need help to serve that person better like glasses, hearing aids, mobility support items. I do feel like having the foundational knowledge that all bodies are different and knowing what that looks like could help with future feelings. Also, what you said about your FIL having the same type penis as your husband, does he feel the same shame that your husband does? I wonder if those feelings were handed down from father to son. So I feel like it would also be super helpful for your husband to try therapy and deal with his feelings towards his feelings. I think from the beginning it’s important for kids to learn that their self worth has no relation to what’s in their pants in all contexts, so having that as a base knowledge would be helpful too, but your husband needs to also believe that himself.’

Express gratitude for the body you have. ‘I cannot speak to this *specific* issue, but I’m trying very hard to break the cycle of body issues by expressing gratitude for my body, for my own benefit and for my kids. This can be acknowledging my rolls occasionally and saying I’m thankful for my belly, which carried three babies and is soft and warm and nice to cuddle. Or even something silly, like when my 4 year old observed that I have a “big butt,” I told her I’m thankful for my butt because it gives me a comfy place to sit  Normalize different bodies and their various shapes and sizes and colors and the lesson should extend to that to a degree. For specifics, aim for casual mentions, which might feel silly but will be more of a thing with potty training, like, “your penis helps you aim your pee! That’s so cool!” And as your child grows and you eventually discuss the other aspects of penis wielding you would reiterate that bodies are all different but his body is the best body for him.’

Messaging when uncomfortable about your body. ‘I am not a man nor do I have a penis, but i have very small boobs, and therefore I’ll give that perspective. I went a long time trying to make my boobs look bigger, what would have helped is if I focused on their function rather than their appearance. And if i could have been reassured somehow that I was no less a functioning human despite a small sized part. A phrase i caught myself saying to myself when I was older and started using them for breastfeeding was, ” (they) work just as well” or “works just fine” or “does just what God intended” so having that mindset really helped me to experience confidence in them. Perhaps adopting some phrases like that will put them in his mind so he’s more capable of summoning that inner dialogue when the time comes? I also love the above ideas. Using those phrases around the house or in reference to different body types could help promote body positivity.’

Men with smaller penises are usually better lovers. ‘Unpopular opinion: I prefer a smaller (husband is well endowed and it really limits what is “pleasurable” with out added pain) … and often, I think men with “smaller” packages usually are self aware and make up for it in other ways of pleasure.. emotionally, mentally arousing, and many other forms such as oral, masturbation techniques, or adding in toys and stuff to assure both parties are satisfied.’

Talk about showers and growers. ‘Tell him about growers and showers, everyone’s different’ and ‘just to explain as english isn’t first language, growers is where the penis grows significantly during an erection but is smaller when flaccid. Shower is where the penis size doesn’t really change during an erection.’

When it is bullying. ‘I think the much larger concern here is that he’s being bullied, and particularly bullied about his private parts. That needs addressed. Putting a timeline of when he may or may not get “bigger” doesn’t help this situation. I think it just reinforces to him that size is this whole ordeal he needs to be consumed by. It should be made clear now that regardless of his size, his body is perfect just as is, and that nobody has the right to bully him. Unfortunately telling him it may happen at X age may just reinforce an idea like “I will finally be desirable when my penis becomes large by X age” when really the focus should be restoring his confidence in his body just the way it is. I think it’s also time to talk to the school about this very detrimental behaviour these other boys are partaking in. Bullying is serious, and sometimes life or death. Who knows what other boys are being bullied about this. Adults need to step in here. Body shaming, especially of genitals, is always serious.’

What if my child has a larger penis?

There is very little information on the internet about how to support a child with a larger penis. And most of what I have found is more about what to do when having sex.

But I want to talk about it, as children with larger penises will also face teasing and bullying from their peers (and sexual partners), as well as pick up on the negative messaging from society. Plus they are less common, so finding someone in the same situation as them, is uncommon.

I know that this is something parents worry about, and it is important that children with a larger penis grow up feeling happy and confident with the body they have.

So I am going to share some ideas on some of the different things to talk about in this situation.

Diversity. You can never talk about it enough, so please keep on talking about everyone is different and that’s okay. Read books, and point out differences and discrimination when you see it.

Sexual objectification. As your child becomes a tween, start talking about sexual objectification. Where a person’s value is based on their penis size, that bigger is seen as better (it isn’t), and people are often teased or ridiculed about their penis. And when you’re watching TV with them or listening to music, point it out when you see it and share your values and beliefs. The more we talk about society’s attitudes, the easier it is for kids to cope with it. And let them know they aren’t alone, that other kids too will have larger penises. Here’s a blog post that has some good ideas on how to talk to kids about sexual objectification.

Conceal your penis with your clothing. If your child is feeling self-conscious about their penis, then sometimes baggy or looser clothing can help draw less attention to that part of the body. Or a loose shirt that will hang down and cover their groin. Also, trousers are often not designed for a larger penis, so your child may feel uncomfortable because their pants are too tight or uncomfortable in that part of the body. I found a blog post that shared a suggestion from a tailor as to the best type of pants to wear. This is what they said – ‘Technically, the best style would be something that’s higher in the rise, more length in the rise, and possibly has a pleat, so had more volume so that it was not so fitted. Still tailored, but not tight through the groin or the crotch.’

Find the right underwear. This will be a matter of ‘trial and error’, and you may have to change different styles and sizes to see what is more comfortable for your child. Boxers may be too loose and allow the penis to get squashed or caught during their daily activities. So you may have to try firmer fitting underwear and show them how to place their penis so that it doesn’t feel uncomfortable during their day. If you notice your child adjusting their penis during the day, then you may need to try new underwear or even reconsider the trousers they are wearing. I also want to add that some kids find their penis gets in the way regardless of size.

Managing erections. Some kids will find a larger penis annoying, especially when it’s erect. And sadly, there’s not a lot that you can do about it. They could try putting a bag, jumper or book on their lap to make their erection less visible. They could untuck their shirt from their pants or wear one long enough to cover the erection. If they had a jumper, they could tie it around their waist to cover their penis. They could also try using a distraction technique, such as counting or reciting songs or stories to help them manage unwanted or uncomfortable erections. I talk more in this blogpost on how to talk about erections.

Sex with a larger penis. Unfortunately, there are some extra conversations you may need to have with your teen about sex. Sex with a larger penis can be uncomfortable, regardless of whether it is going into a mouth, a vagina or an anus. So there are some additional things they may need to consider, like the position they (or their partner) have their body in, and a lubricant will always be helpful when penetrating a vagina or anus. They may also need to consider a sex aid to make penetrative sex safer and more enjoyable for their partner. There are now donut like rings that they can place over their penis which prevents them from deep thrusting and help control depth. Like the Ohnut or you can search ‘buffer ring penis’ or ‘depth control rings’ and see what else you can find. Here’s a resource from Go Ask Alice! on pleasurable sex with a penis that is too large. And another blogpost with helpful information about how to have a great sex with a bigger-than-average penis.

Find the right size condom before they are sexually active. You should also buy a range of different condoms for your teen to trial. When they have an erection, they should place a condom on their penis and see how it feels. They can also masturbate with the condom on, and monitor their penis for signs of discomfort. Sometimes applying a too-small condom to their penis will help them to understand what ‘too tight’ might feel like on their penis. Once they’ve found a brand and size they like, then they should always have their own supply. Especially if they are having casual sex, as their condom size and brand may not be readily available. Plus condom machines in public toilets often have a limited selection of condoms.

What if my tween/teen is worried about their penis size?

This is pretty common. When I had my Puberty Talk channel on YouTube, nearly a third of the questions sent in from kids were about penis size. And sadly, there are a lot of kids out there who think they should have a porn-sized penis at a young age. Or they believe they should have an adult-sized penis much sooner than it actually happens.

So what can you do as a parent to support your child?

If your child is worried, try to find out why they’re worried. Where is this fear coming from? Are their expectations unrealistic?

When talking about sex, don’t just talk about penetration. There is a wide range of sexual things to do with a partner, and they are equal to (and maybe even better) than vaginal intercourse. If you are comfortable (and it’s appropriate) share some of your own personal experiences with sex and different-sized penises.

Teach your child that size doesn’t matter. As they say… “It’s not the length of the wand, but the magic in the stick” or “It’s not the wand, but the skill of the wizard”. (There are lots of similar sayings about smaller-than-average penises)

So lots of reassurance, and let them know they aren’t alone and that other kids worry about this too.

Oh, I nearly forgot to share this tip. The penis will always look smaller than it actually is, when you are looking at it. Plus, some people will have a thicker pad of skin above it (mons pubis) which will cover the shaft of the penis (this is different to a buried or hidden penis). The penis may also look smaller if it is circumcised (i.e. the foreskin has been surgically removed).

Resources for talking about diversity and penises

I have a blog post that contains a list of books and resources about genital diversity that will help talk about the different sizes, shapes and colours of penises. And these are children’s books about diversity and inclusion; they’re perfect for talking about diversity in general.

My list of children’s books about private body parts contains books that are mainly about genitals. There are also a few books in there that are just about penises or vulvas. The more general sex education books (that cover a lot of different topics) also include a page on naming the genitals.

If you are looking for age-appropriate illustrations of genitals (ranging from simple to highly detailed), then my anatomically correct cartoon illustrations have quite a few penises inside them.

In regards to caring for genitals, I have a blog post about penis and foreskin care ( from babies to teens) as well as another blog post about cleaning your vagina and vulva. I also have a blog post about talking with children about erections.

For small penises, Justin Hancock (from the UK) has a helpful blog post for 14+ teens with advice for if you have a small dick. And another that encourages teens to be satisfied with their penis size.