WEDNESDAY, Sept. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Sexual behavior by children is often normal and transient in nature, but clinicians need to be able to distinguish between age-appropriate sexual behaviors and those which may indicate problems in the child's environment, according to a clinical report by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published online Aug. 31 in Pediatrics.
Nancy D. Kellogg, M.D., of the AAP's Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect, and colleagues write that parents may be confused or alarmed by sexual behavior by their children, but usually such behavior is transient and age-appropriate. However, behavior that is not age-appropriate, or is intrusive or hurtful should trigger a deeper investigation of the child's circumstances and home environment.
Sexual behavior problems may be a signal that a child is undergoing abuse, neglect or violence, as children from homes where such behavior occurs are more likely than their counterparts from homes without such circumstances to have sexual behavior problems, the researchers note.
"Many sexual behaviors in children are developmentally normal and transient and occur within a developmental trajectory that includes curiosity-seeking behaviors, testing of interpersonal boundaries, and situational factors that elicit such behaviors," the authors write. "The clinical approach to children with sexual behaviors may entail a range of responses, including tolerance and understanding, parental redirection, further assessment by a mental health professional, and referral to child protective services when abuse or neglect is suspected."
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