Playing "doctor"

So I need a little bit of advice on this.
My daughter is 4 and lately shes been kind of touchy feely with herself. I know its normal for kids to go through a phase of "discovery". Ive explained to her that she needs to do that in the privacy of her own room, but lately Ive noticed an increase in it and yesterday when she went to her cousins, she was caught playing "doctor".
I know its normal for kids to go through this, but it still makes me very uncomfortable. I've had several conversations with her about this and Im at a loss of what to do next.
Any suggestions?

I'd do nothing, ignore it.
If she starts doing it outside of her room, I'd tell her to do it in private.

I would tell her we don't do that at other people's houses

Was she playing doctor with her cousins?

Quoting 1st1ontheway:" Was she playing doctor with her cousins?"

good question. that would raise a flag with me if she was

Quoting 1st1ontheway:" Was she playing doctor with her cousins?"

Yes, her cousin is a girl.
If shes in her room, I dont bother her, but when its with another kid, I feel like I need to do something to stop it. Ive had conversations with her about only keeping it to herself, which is why I don't know what to do now because it seems like the talks arent working.

They werent touching eachother or anything at the time, but my daughter admitted to playing doctor and neither of them were wearing underwear. Only dresses

what do you consider "playing doctor"?

Quoting Blythe.:" what do you consider "playing doctor"?"

Well, the first time she told me she was playing doctor, I asked her what they do and she said they check your eyes, mouth etc.
So I dropped it
But then I walked in on her in her bedroom touching her area and she said she was playing "doctor" again. This was a couple months after

Im more concerned about what she considers "playing doctor". Thats what she calls it. Her aunt was the one who walked in at her cousins house. She said they werent touching, but my daughter did say they were playing that and wouldnt say much else.

Quoting Blythe.:" good question. that would raise a flag with me if she was"

yeah that would worry me... even slightly older cousins/friends will use excuses like 'playing doctor' or 'playing house' to try to get their hands on younger kids. People here (DC) have told me I'm paranoid, but where I'm from its totally not out of the norm to catch a 10 or 12 year old boy trying to feel up on a 5 or 6 year old girl.. so we tend to watch for red flags like that and also tend to take the childhood masturbation thing pretty seriously. Not seriously as in its a 'bad thing' in and of itself, but seriously as in making sure they dont start exposing themselve to other kids or trying to touch other kids, and making sure other kids don't touch them. Its a hard line to draw with kids when they don't know the sexual aspect of it, and can't recognise if they're being victimised by someone that knows more than they do...
It's kinda sad because my husband thinks I'm crazy, he actually doesn't personally know anyone that's ever been molested, and I personally don't have one single female friend (from my area) that hasn't been. I'm sorry but it scares me - not because I'm paranoid but because in some places its a real day-to-day danger that parents have to look for.

Quoting Adrienne +1:" Well, the first time she told me she was playing doctor, I asked her what they do and she said they ... [snip!] ... at her cousins house. She said they werent touching, but my daughter did say they were playing that and wouldnt say much else."

Thats why am I at a loss. Ive had plenty on talks with her because it really freaks me out.
Shes pretty good about telling me everything, good and bad. I asked if anyone taught her how and she said "Yes, I taught myself". Im really uncomfortable with this kind of thing and its hard for me to not tell her its just bad in general. I think she picks up on how uneasy I get though and Im worried Im making it seem like she cant talk to me

Quoting Adrienne +1:" Thats why am I at a loss. Ive had plenty on talks with her because it really freaks me out. Shes pretty ... [snip!] ... just bad in general. I think she picks up on how uneasy I get though and Im worried Im making it seem like she cant talk to me"

I would have her show you what playing doctor to her means. Have her show you.

my DD is 5 and she admitted to exploring with her male cousin. they didn't touch each other's privates, but they were headed that way imo. we had a talk with her about how it's not appropriate to do that, and if anyone tries to touch her that it's not okay and she needs to tell someone. there hasn't been another incident of it, and that was at the beginning of the year.

OP can you please unquote me ?