Lecture Notes

Children become aware of sex and sexuality much earlier than many people realize. They generally learn to disguise their interest rather than risk the disapproval of their elders. Starting as early as age 3, children begin to explore their bodies together. They may masturbate or play "mommy and daddy" and hug and kiss and lie on top of each other.   Same-sex activity is more common during the childhood years when the separation of the sexes is particularly strong. Most go on to develop heterosexual orientations; some do not. But whatever a person's sexual orientation, childhood sex play clearly does not create the orientation.   The message "If it feels good, it's bad" is often internalized at an early age, leading to psychological and sexual difficulties in later life. Virtually all psychologists, physicians, child development specialists, and other professionals agree that masturbation is healthy. Negative responses from adults only magnify the guilt and anxiety that a child is taught to associate with this behavior. Image from McGraw Hill Image Library