Sexuality in Infancy & Childhood Flashcards
Infancy: 0-1 years
- World of sensual delight
- Thrives on touch
- Erections and lubrication from beginning
- Orgasm as early as 5 months
- Pelvic thrusting: 8-10 months
- Masturbation: 6-12 months
Physically or emotionally deprived infants…
may rock, bang their heads but won’t masturbate.
Healthy children tend to…
be more involved with genital play and pelvic thrusting
- Genital play with others 2 years.
Unsure of appropriateness of…
touch, always err in the direction of affection rather than pulling away — this is just one part of the child’s expanding world, let them explore.
The Terrible Two’s and Three’s
- Hunger for facts — “natural curiosity”
- Concrete, needs things to be specific
- Potty training — careful to distinguish between excretory and sex organs
- “I’m a boy” “I’m a girl”
- Masturbation — requiring social manners.
- Proper names — penis, vulva
- Confine the area of sex talks to people rather than “birds and flowers”
- Comment on masturbation — appropriate but in private
- See behaviour from child’s perspective “feel good do it”
- Privacy — their and yours
Early Childhood: The Innovative Fours and Fives
- Parents start to reduce the amount of touch they give their children
- A lot of touch between peers
- Sex play is rampant “peeking” and “curiosity”
- Sex games “sex is something that must be shrouded in mystery or explored under other motivations”
- They should by this age know the names and general functions of all parts of their bodies
- Masturbation increases 4-5 years.
- Should have a clear concept of public and private
The School-Age Child: 6-11 years
- Sexual basics are understood
- Modesty, greater need for privacy
- Sexual exploration appears reduced as they become more adept at hiding sexual interest
- Prime time for the development of attitudes.
- Teaching one does not act out on every feeling goes a long way.
- Focus on competency control and skill building
- Increase influence of media
- Censorship is almost impossible but what is seen may be used as a springboard for teaching
- Accidental voyeur — discuss
- Dirty words and sexual play
- Consolidating masculinity and femininity
- How to bring “it” up
- Male/Female and same sex exploration
- Little awareness of orientation
Pre-Adolescence: 9-13 years
- Increased self-consciousness
- Peer approval important
- Sexual urges starting to emerge
- Masturbation main outlet
- Continue same/other sex exploration
- Increase awareness or orientation
- Provision of sexual information and discussion of values increases in importance
Sexuality in Adolescence: 13-18 years
Puberty — secondary sexual characteristics conflict physical development vs. child roles
13-18 year old Females
- Menarche: 10-18 years — Average: 13 years
- May not ovulate for up to 2 years
- Increased estrogen production
13-18 year old Males
- Nocturnal emissions
- First ejaculation: 8-20 years — Average: 14 years
- May not have active sperm immediately
13-18 year old Activities
- Masturbation
- Petting
- Dating
- Experimentation with both genders — greater awareness of orientation
- Oral Sex (increase 3x since Kinsey — 40% of 17 years +)
- Intercourse — average age 16 years for Females & 15.5 years for Males
- Hormones, peer pressure, myths
- Need for information on safe sex and relationships
__% of kids by grade nine are having intercourse
20% of kids by grade nine are having intercourse — increases to 45% by grade 11
__% of grade nines have had oral sex
More then 33% of grade nines have had oral sex — increases to 50% by grade 11
Only __% of parents think their children their children are having sex
4%
Early Intercourse Factors
- For girls early alcohol use = early intercourse
- Girls with low self esteem and boys with high self esteem = early intercourse
Over 70% of Canadian have first intercourse before age ___
20
__% of teens did not use protection against STI last time they had sex
25%
Current Issues: Only __% of teens had heard of HPV, which causes genital warts and is linked to cervical cancer.
19%
In Canada __% sexually active women have HPV — even if they used protection
50%
Current Issues: __% of sexually active teen girls had not had a Pap test in three years
56%
Current Issues: Only __% teens know gonorrhea or syphilies was transmitted by oral sex
20%
Sex Education
- All people are sexual and have sexual needs…
- The goal of sex education is to enrich lives and encourage responsibility…
- Sex education must be thought of as being education not moral indoctrination…
- Equip youngsters with the skills, knowledge and attitudes that will enable them to make intelligent sexual choices and decisions…
Implementing Sexuality Education Programs
Content: directed at the needs of individuals involved
- Teaching Methods: need to take their abilities into account
- Sexuality information needs to be presented concretely, simply, matter of factly, and repeatedly
Educational Approach Information-Motivation-Behavioural Skills (IMB) model
This models specifies three elements that are necessary to produce a meaningful and long-lasting change within a person, resulting in a reduction of risky behaviours, prevention of sexual health-related problems, and improvement in sexual health functioning.
Issues in Parent/Child Communication about Sexuality
communication, information, terminology, positive attitudes, values, one’s own sexual experiences & comfort
- talk about sex and values between the ages 6 and 11
- keep information about personal life broad & not descriptive
Factors That May Affect Sexual Identity
- Parent/Child communication abilities
- Segregation: school and/or home – influences for the positive or negatives
- Formal/Informal sexual education – Formal: School –Informal: Internet
- Biases in words/signs
- Parental/Other’s attitudes
- Opportunity for sexual expression
- Ability to understand sexual concepts
Four Points to Remember while Discussing Sexuality with Your Children
- Facts: provide your children with unbiased factual information — straight up facts
- Values: tell your children what you think and feel about the facts — what you think
- Responsibility: let your children know what you expect of them
ask them how they can be responsible for sexual decisions - Self-Esteem: help your children feel positive about themselves and their bodies
the more confident you are, the easier this will be
Some Recommendations to Keep in Mind
- Start early & don’t wait for them to ask
- There are no taboo subjects
- Make sexuality education a family activity & both parents should educate
- Stamp out the double standard
- Don’t be shocked by four-letter words
- Identify the questions before you answer & be prepared for criticism
- Teaching sex education is like teaching anything else
Dealing with the World vs. Living in this World
Dealing with the World: media, television, peer information & fear of sexism
Living in this World: Effects of behaviour modelling, modelling of sexual attitudes & home life
Begins at the Beginning
message you want to give is you are always available to talk and answer questions.
