Title: Sexual Behaviors in Young Children: What’s Normal, What’s Not? - HealthyChildren.org
Headings: Sexual Behaviors in Young Children: What’s Normal, What’s Not?
Ages & Stages
Sexual Behaviors in Young Children: What’s Normal, What’s Not?
What's Normal?
Here's a list of what pediatricians say is normal, common sexual behavior in 2 through 6-year-olds.
Red Flag Behaviors
Sexual behavior problems in young children include any act that:
Body Safety Teaching Tips for Parents
Parents should begin to teach their children about body safety between the ages of 3 to 5.
Talk with Your Child's Pediatrician
Additional Information & Resources:
Last Updated

Content: Touching/masturbating genitals in public or private
Looking at or touching a peer's or new sibling's genitals
Showing genitals to peers
Standing or sitting too close to someone
Trying to see peers or adults naked
Red Flag Behaviors
Parents also need to know when a child's sexual behavior appears more than harmless curiosity. Sexual behavior problems may pose a risk to the safety and well-being your child and other children and can signal physical or sexual abuse or exposure to sexual activity. Sexual behavior problems in young children include any act that: Occurs frequently and cannot be redirected
Causes emotional or physical pain or injury to themselves or others
Is associated with physical aggression
Involves coercion or force
Simulates adult sexual acts
Body Safety Teaching Tips for Parents
Parents should begin to teach their children about body safety between the ages of 3 to 5. Use appropriate language. Teach children proper names for all body parts, including names such as genitals, penis, vagina, breasts, buttocks, and private parts. Making up names for body parts may give the idea that there is something bad about the proper name. Understand why your child has a special name for the body part but teach the proper name, too. Also, teach your child which parts are private (parts covered by a swimming suit). Evaluate your family's respect for modesty.