Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre_Parent Support Handbook

. . . . . Age Appropriate Sexual Development

Sexual Development

Remember that each child develops at his or her own pace and not every child will show the behaviours described below.

Pre-school Children 0-5 years of age

Commonly…

Rarely…

• Use childish ‘sexual’ language to talk about body parts • Ask where babies come from • Touch/rub/explore their own genitals • Show and look at private parts • Interested in watching/peeking at people in bathroom

• Talk about sex • Have sexual contact with other children • Show adult-like sexualized behaviours • Continue to touch/rub genitals in public after being told “no” • Wanting to be continually nude in public, or refusing to put clothes on • Continually being caught watching/peeking at people in washroom after being told not to

Pre-school Children 0-5 years of age

Commonly…

Rarely…

• Ask questions about menstruation, pregnancy, and other sexual behaviour • Experiment with other children, often during games, kissing, touching, showing, and role playing (e.g., moms & dads or doctors & nurses) • Masturbate in private • Want privacy when in bathroom or changing clothes

• Masturbate in public • Display fear or anger about babies or intercourse • Show adult like sexual behaviour or knowledge • Frequently trying to play sexualized games (e.g., playing doctor) after being told “no” • Forcing other children to play games related to sex and sexuality • Imitating sexual behaviors with dolls/toys • Aggressive or tearful in demand for privacy

Adolescents 13-19 years

Commonly…

Rarely…

• Ask questions about relationships and sex • Use sexual language and talk between themselves about sex • Looks at nude pictures/seek out pornography • Masturbate in private • Experiment sexually with adolescents of similar age (About one third of adolescents have sexual intercourse before the age of 16)

• Masturbate in public • Have sexual contact with much younger children or adults

• Trying to show others nude photos or pornography despite being told to stop

Adapted from: parentsprotect.co.uk & the work of Tony Cavanaugh Johnson

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