Sexual development begins before birth and continues throughout the lifespan. This development is a normal, expected, and essential part of childhood. It is shaped by other aspects of growth, including social, emotional, cognitive, and moral developmental domains. Sexual development includes not only physical changes, anatomical knowledge, and sexual behaviors, but also boundaries, social skills, friendships, and attachments.
This webinar provides an overview of developmental domains in both preschoolers (ages 5 and under) and school-age children (ages 6-12). Participants will learn how these domains relate to children’s sexual knowledge and behaviors. The session will review typical sexual development across these age ranges and protective and supportive strategies to promote healthy sexual development. The webinar also covers factors behind problematic sexual behavior (PSB) and evidence-based methods to return to healthy development.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize typical social, emotional, and cognitive development in preschoolers (ages 5 and under) and school-age children (ages 6 to 12).
- Describe how developmental processes influence children’s sexual knowledge and sexual behavior.
- Identify factors linked to the development of problematic sexual behavior (PSB) and outline steps to prevent or respond to these concerns.
- Explain evidence-based strategies that promote healthy sexual development and effectively address concerning sexual behaviors.
