Childhood Sexual Behavior

Most do not know that even while in the womb male fetus show signs of sexual behavior and that we continue to exhibit sexual behavior throughout infancy, childhood, preadolescence, adolescence, and into adulthood.   As said before ultrasound technicians have spotted male fetuses with erections as well as fetuses of both sexes sucking their thumbs which Sigmund Freud theorized gives infants a sense of sexual satisfaction (Rathus, 2005).   In early childhood (eight to ten months old) children have been observed both touching their genitals and thrusting of their pelvis onto stuffed animals, towels, and blankets. It has even been shown that children this young may reach orgasm (Rathus, 2005). Masturbation in children begins between six and twelve months old and continues into throughout childhood while there is not ejaculation in children this young it does give a sense of sexual satisfaction.   Sexual behavior becomes more involved as a child reaches age two; with the curiosity that comes with being a child children in this age group tend to explore what other children’s genitals look like. These behaviors in children can be disturbing to parents that are not aware that it is a completely natural part of a child’s sexual exploration.
Children in the preadolescence (nine- thirteen years old) and adolescence (fourteen –eighteen years old) begin to want information about sexual behavior; however most of the information they receive is from other children their age and not from adults resulting in misinformation.   The experimentation in sexual development and behavior continues with and masturbation and wanting to know what other children their age “look like”.   As a child grows closer to puberty their body changes and females and males begin to exhibit signs of adulthood children at this age can use petting to express affection and reach sexual arousal. They often engage in oral sex because this is often thought to be safer then intercourse (Rathus, 2005). Hormones, lack... [continues]

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