Sexual and Sexualized Behavior in Children
Curiosity about and feelings in the genitalia are a normal and expected part of child development. Children experience feelings in their genitals from the earliest moments of life. Children act on these feelings in various ways and parents/caregivers may report various concerns. You can help parents understand what is normal versus problematic behavior. Psychosexual development is an ideal topic for anticipatory guidance in pediatric practice; you can help a parent to prepare their child for what’s coming next in their bodies and feelings.
Consider these resources from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
- Bright Futures. Promoting Healthy Development of Sexuality and Gender Identity. July 2022. https://downloads.aap.org/AAP/PDF/BF_HealthySexualityGenderIdentity_Tipsheet.pdf
- Breuner CC et al. Sexuality Education for Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics. August 2016. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/138/2/e20161348/52508/Sexuality-Education-for-Children-and-Adolescents
Key Concepts
- Overview
- Key Concept
- Childhood Sexual Development: Normative, Cautionary or Problematic Behavior?
- Physician’s roles:
- When a parent/caregiver reports problematic sexualized behaviors
- When offering anticipatory guidance to help parents/caregivers understand and promote healthy sexual development
- When a family believes sexual abuse may have occurred
- When a family believes their child or teen may be sexually attracted to children
- Risky Behaviors in Relationships
- Beyond pedophilia
- Adult perpetrators
- Peer-to-peer abuse
- Risky Behaviors Online
- Exposure to Pornography
- Sextortion
- Beyond pedophilia
- Sexual Behaviors That Can Lead to Legal Problems
- Creating and sharing sexual images
- Sexual interaction with a younger partner
- References and Resources
