Promoting Healthy Sexual Development

"In these days of great trouble and unrest. . .let people look to the stars for comfort."   - Annie Jump Cannon, astronomer

PROMOTING HEALTHY SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT

In their new book, "Healthy Sexuality Development:  A Guide for Early Childhood Educators and Families," (Washington, DC: NAEYC, 2002; www.naeyc.org), Kent Chrisman and Donna Couchenour suggest that all adults should avoid expressing or modeling the following behaviors or attitudes to young children:

*  Implying or communicating that some body parts are bad or shameful;
*  Conveying that the child is bad or naughty because of an action or word;
*  Communicating to families that their children are bad or abnormal because of something the children say or do;
*  Assigning to children's interest in sexuality interpretations that are related to adult sexuality;
*  Demonstrating biases toward people.

Chrisman and Couchenour continue...
"Sexuality, even as early as infancy and toddlerhood, is a normal part of being human.  No amount of ignoring or denying reality will change that fact.  Teachers and parents can support or inhibit young children's healthy sexuality development through their attitudes, interactions, and other behaviors.

"Adults who work with young children have a responsibility to optimize children's well-being.  By attending to their own uneasiness about sex, early childhood professionals can better understand and support healthy sexuality development in young children.  Because adult attitudes and behaviors influence all aspects of children's development tremendously and because more young children than ever are spending greater amounts of time in early childhood education programs, early childhood educators are wise to increase their understanding and skills related to healthy sexuality development."

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