Helping Children with Sexual Behavior Problems: A Guidebook for Professions and Caregivers (Updated 2009)

When young children engage in behaviors related to sex and sexuality that are not within the normal range for their age and stage of life, caregivers struggle with how to guide the children, understand and manage the behaviors. This booklet provides detailed help for the parents/caregivers of children twelve and younger with worrisome sexual behaviors. These guidelines take into account the neighborhood, home and familial environment in which the child lives, the child’s temperament and developmental stage, and the possible contribution of the caregivers. The booklet begins with nine pages, which help the reader understand children with sexual behavior problems (CSBP). Healthy environments for the CSBP are then detailed with guidelines for healthy boundaries. A detailed plan is presented for parents/caregivers to follow to understand the sexual behavior problems and then work together with the child to modify the behaviors. Therapists, counselors, schoolteachers, group home workers, and others who work with parents/caregivers of CSBP are provided with explicit information on the assessment and treatment of CSBP and their parents/caretakers. Suggestions for additional resources are provided. Helping Children with Sexual Behavior Problems, A Guidebook for Professionals and Caregivers is the companion booklet to Understanding Children’s Sexual Behaviors- What’s Natural and Healthy. Understanding Children’s Sexual Behaviors- What’s Natural and Healthy assists the reader to determine if particular behaviors related to sex and sexuality engaged in by children twelve and younger are within the normal range, are “of concern,” or need a professional evaluation.