Childhood Development and Sexual Behaviors

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Childhood Development and Sexual Behaviors

Children grow through several stages of development and sexual behaviors. There are four stages the child will go through, they are as follows: infancy (0 - 2 years), early childhood (3 – 8 years), preadolescence (9 – 13 years), and adolescence (teenager) (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2005).

The first sexual behaviors start while the child is still in the mother's womb. Both male and female fetuses suck on their fingers; which is said to be a sexual behavior. Male fetuses are also known to have erections. Babies have been known to have orgasms' as early as four months old for girls and five months old for boys. Between the ages of 12-15 months they begin to become sexually aroused as well as sexually curious.

The second stage of development in early childhood is when children will now start to explore not only their bodies but that of other's as well. Children at this stage will begin touching their own bodies. Both boys and girls will play with dolls in an effort to see body parts. Children between the ages of three to eight months are curious and will touch their mother's breasts

The stage following this is called preadolescence stage. Both sexes will experience masturbation and or petting,