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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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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