STAGES OF CHILD SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT - Planned …

1 STAGES OF CHILD SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT . Just as children reach developmental milestones like crawling, walking and talking, they also reach milestones related to sexuality. Parents can better support young people in leading sexually healthy lives if they know what to expect at each age. This scale of typical SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT is taken from CHILD DEVELOPMENT research. It's important to know that the STAGES are not always the same for everyone. For example, certain life experiences, like having an intellectual or DEVELOPMENT disability or experiencing a trauma may impact the timing of these milestones. If you have questions about your CHILD 's DEVELOPMENT , talk to a health care provider. BIRTH 2 YEARS OLD (INFANTS) 3-4 YEARS OLD (TODDLERS) 5 8 YEARS OLD (SCHOOL AGE). Children at this age may: Children at this age may: Children at this age may: Explore body parts.

2 Become aware of and very curious Be very curious about pregnancy and birth. Experience genital pleasure. about gender/body differences. Have strong same-gender friendships. Children Learn expected behaviors for Begin masturbating. of another gender are often seen as gross or boys and girls. Play house, play doctor, or explore other yucky. forms of sex play with friends and siblings. Begin to focus on peer group style of dress and Establish a sense of their own gender. speech. Copy adult SEXUAL behaviors. Discover their SEXUAL orientation (this does not Be curious about their origins: Where mean that the CHILD is acting on the orientation). did I come from? . Questions that 5 8 year-olds may ask Questions that 3 4 year-olds may ask include: include: Where do babies come from? How does a baby get food when it's inside Will I have breasts or a penis when its mother?

3 I grow up? Does having a baby hurt? This handout was developed with What is sex? How come you have a penis or breasts and information from Teach & Talk: I don't? What is a condom? The Subject is Sex by Wilson, Why do boys stand up to go to the How can I nd a friend? Quackenbush along with information from Advocates for Youth bathroom? Why do some people have penises and some website: What is a tampon for? don't? storage/advfy/documents/growth-and- How does a baby get into or out of its Why do some people have breasts and some mother? don't? 2017 Planned parenthood of New York City. All Rights Reserved. 9 12 YEARS OLD (PRETEENS) 13 18 YEARS OLD (TEENS) 19 24 YEARS OLD (YOUNG ADULTS). Children at this age may: Teens at this age may: Young adults may: Begin puberty (including menstruation Express their desire to be more independent. Take on adult roles and responsibilities.)

4 And wet dreams). Look for ways to express their identity Move into adult relationships with Become more modest and desire privacy. ( , clothing, behavior, etc.). their parents. Begin experiencing mood swings. Participate in risk taking and experimentation. Complete the process of physical Feel awkward and wonder Am I normal? Face decisions about sex and drugs. maturation. Develop romantic crushes on friends, Initiate SEXUAL activity. Understand abstract concepts and older teens, celebrities, or sometimes be aware of consequences. Become involved in a serious relationship. teachers or counselors. Some may even Enter into intimate SEXUAL and have romantic and SEXUAL fantasies. May come out if they are gay, lesbian, emotional relationships. or bisexual, regardless of SEXUAL behavior May question whether they are gay, or experience. Questions that 19 24 year-olds may ask lesbian, bisexual, and/or transgender.

5 Include: Continue to socialize mainly with Questions that 13 18 year-olds may ask same-gender friends. include: I want to make sure I am taking all the right steps to protect my health. Masturbate to orgasm. How old were you when you started Where do I start? Be strongly in uenced by peers, but parents having sex? Am I ready for a committed remain the main source of values. Did you have a lot of friends at my age? relationship? What is oral/anal sex? Questions that 9 12 year-olds may ask How do I talk to my partner about STIs? include: How do gay people have sex? How often should I go to the doctor? Will I develop breasts or grow tall like Did you fall in love at my age? What should I do if I've had my friends? How did you know when you were in love? unprotected sex? How does someone have sex? How will I know if I'm gay, lesbian, How do I balance my relationship Why do girls have a period?

6 Bisexual and/or transgender? with all my other responsibilities? What is a wet dream? What are testicles for? How can a baby live inside its mother? 2017 Planned parenthood of New York City. All Rights Reserved.