Childhood Sexual Development Chart

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Ages 2–3 years
Typical Behaviors Behaviors or Areas of Concern
That May Indicate Abuse
  • Explore and touch their own genitals and show them to others
  • Rub their genitals on purpose (masturbate)
  • Can have erections (boys)
  • Take off their clothes and want to be naked
  • Try to touch mother’s breasts
  • Ask questions about bodies and bodily functions like “poop” and “pee”
  • Respond to requests to do something else other than genital play
  • Begin to understand this kind of genital play is private
  • A sexually transmitted disease
  • Bruising around the genitals or on the face
  • These also apply to any age group
Ages 4–6 years
Typical Behaviors Behaviors or Areas of Concern
That May Indicate Abuse
  • Sometimes masturbate in front of others and can have orgasms
  • Try to see other people naked
  • Explore genitals with other children, such as “playing doctor”
  • Play-act dating behavior, such as holding hands and kissing
  • Can be taught that genital play and masturbation are private behaviors
  • Talk about genitals and use sexual slang and swear words even when they don’t understand them
  • Cannot redirect their genital play or masturbation when asked
  • Have excessive interest, knowledge, or language about sexual behaviors
  • Act out sexualized behaviors not typical for children of their age
  • Have knowledge of sexual behaviors not typical for children their age
  • Have behaviors typical of a younger child
  • Are overly concerned about their bodies—for example, may wear multiple layers of clothing
Ages 7–12 years
Typical Behaviors Behaviors or Areas of Concern
That May Indicate Abuse
  • Masturbate, usually in private
  • Play games involving sexual behavior such as “Truth or Dare” or “Spin the Bottle”
  • Try to see people without their clothes
  • Look at pictures of people who are naked or with just a few clothes on
  • Watch or listen to media with sexual content (TV, movies, music, websites, games)
  • Want more privacy, such as wanting to undress alone, or not wanting to talk about sexual issues
  • Begin to be sexually attracted to their peers
  • Begin to have a sexual orientation
  • Cannot redirect their genital play or masturbation when asked
  • Have excessive interest, knowledge, or language about sexual behaviors
  • Act out sexualized behaviors not typical for children of their age
  • Have knowledge of sexual behaviors not typical for children their age
  • Have behaviors typical of a younger child
  • Are overly concerned about their bodies—for example, may wear multiple layers of clothing