Child sexual development

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At birth

• capacity to have an erection (male)
• capacity for vaginal lubrication (female)
• all sex organs present
• in males testes may or may not be descended into scrotum

During first year

• show genital guarding
• manipulate own genitals
• orgasm in boys from 3 months
• orgasm in girls from 4 months

Two years

• rebelliousness, uncooperative, fiercely independent
• know their own mind
• differentiates between males and females
• male or female gender identification is fixed
• interest in posture of males and females when urinating
• is interested in physical differences between the sexes
• learns to name body parts
• capacity to fantasize
• love rituals regarding bedtime, bath, meals, and story time
• emotionally stormy
• don't want anyone to touch their buttocks
• develops positive and/or negative attitudes toward elimination and urination depending on toilet training
• self esteem and trust in others first established

Three years

• pleasant, initial shyness
• girls attempt to urinate standing up
• plays at adult male/female roles
• continue to masturbate

Four years

• bathroom slang and name calling "pooh face", "shit head"
• interested in peeking at others eliminating and urinating
• may demand bathroom privacy for self
• plays "nurse/doctor/patient" games with peers, plays hospital and takes rectal temperature
• enjoys nudity
• aware of gender and sex roles
• boys scornfully chauvinistic
• continues to masturbate

Five through to seven

• reinforcement of gender identity continues
• identification with same sex parent strengthens
• mutual body exploration with same sex is common
• sexually oriented daydreams and fantasies begin
• feelings toward opposite sex become more ambivalent.

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Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 6 Jul 2010