Sexual behaviours of children aged 0–4 years: infant, toddler and preschool Age-appropriate Sexual behaviours: Touching or rubbing their own genitals Enjoying being nude Showing others their genitals Playing doctors and nurses Playing mummies and daddies Touching or looking at the private parts of other children or familiar adults Using slang words/dirty language for bathroom and sexual functions, talking about "sexing" Concerning sexual behaviours : Persistent masturbation that does not cease when told to stop Forcing another child to engage in sexual play Sexualising play with dolls such as "humping" a teddy bear Touching the private parts of adults not known to the child Chronic peeping behaviour Very concerning sexual behaviours: Persistently touching or rubbing themselves to the exclusion of normal childhood activities; hurting their own genitals by rubbing or touching Simulating sex with other children, with or without clothes on Oral sex Sexual play involving forceful anal or vaginal penetration with objects Source: Johnson 1999, Johnson & Doonan 2006 Sexual behaviours of children aged 5–7 years: early school years Age-appropriate sexual behaviours Self-touching including masturbating ‘Show me yours/I’ll show you mine’ with same-age children Hearing and telling age-appropriate dirty jokes Playing mummies and daddies Kissing/holding hands Mimicking or practicing observed behaviours such as pinching a bottom Concerning sexual behaviours Continually rubbing/touching their own genitals in public Persistent use of dirty words Wanting to play sex games with much older or younger children Continually wanting to touch the private parts of other children Chronic peeping behaviour Very concerning sexual behaviours Touching or rubbing themselves persistently in private or public to the exclusion of normal childhood activities Rubbing their genitals on other people Forcing other children to play sexual games Sexual knowledge too advanced for their age Talking about sex and sexual acts habitually Source: Johnson 1999, Johnson & Doonan 2006 Sexual behaviours of children aged 8–12 years: pre-adolescent Age-appropriate sexual behaviours Occasional masturbation 'Show me yours/I’ll show you mine’ with peers Kissing and flirting Genital or reproduction conversations with peers Dirty words or jokes with their peer group Concerning sexual behaviours Attempting to expose others’ genitals Sexual knowledge too advanced for their age once context is considered Preoccupation with masturbation Mutual masturbation/group masturbation Single occurrence of peeping, exposing, obscenities, pornographic interest (sources include the internet, pay TV, videos, DVDs and magazines) Stimulating foreplay or intercourse with peers with their clothes on Very concerning sexual behaviours Compulsive masturbation, including task interruption to masturbate Repeated or chronic peeping, exposing or using obscenities Chronic pornographic interest including child pornography* (sources include the internet, pay TV, videos, DVDs and magazines) Degradation/humiliation of themselves using sexual themes Degradation/humiliation of others using sexual themes Touching the genitals of others without permission* Sexually explicit threats – written or verbal* Forced exposure of others’ genitals* Simulating intercourse with peers with clothes off Penetration of dolls, children or animals* For children aged 10–12, these behaviours may constitute criminal offences such as indecent assault, indecent act, or sexual assault (common law). Source: Ryan 2000 * For children aged 10 - 12, these behaviours may constitute criminal offences such as indecent assault, indecent act, or sexual assault (common law). Source : Raising Happy children and providing safe childhoods - A Reader by Ministry of Women and Child Development