acts as 'Touching'...'Self-Pleasuring' and 'Masturbation'...that is NOT what's happening and that's what I'm trying to get across to you...virtually ALL young children do those things...naturally, but without contextualizing what's going on...and that's where Sex & Sexuality Education comes in....it is not 'INTRODUCING' children to such behaviors...read the following excerpt from the WHO report we're referencing (Page 23...)..
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Progress of sexual development
The first 10 years
Generally speaking, during the first six years, chil- dren move rapidly from complete dependence to limited independence. They become aware of their own bodies. Children have sexual feelings even in early infancy. Between the second and third year of their lives, they discover the physical differ- ences between men and women. During this time children start to discover their own bodies (early childhood masturbation, self-stimulation) and they may also try to examine the bodies of their friends (playing doctor). Children learn about their environment by experiment, and sexuality is no different from other areas in this respect. Extensive observational research has identified common sexual behaviour in children, ensuring that this kind of behaviour is regarded as normal.
By exploring sexual feelings and desires and by asking questions, children learn more about sexuality. From the age of three they understand that adults are secretive about this subject. They test adults’ limits, for instance by undressing without warning or by using sexually charged language. Young children are extremely curious and ask a lot of questions. As they gradually lose their egocen- tricity, they become increasingly able to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. As language ability develops, physical contact tends to take a back seat. Children then have several possible ways to express themselves. Older children start developing a sense of shame, and family background is often one of the factors involved.
Around the age of six, children are still very inquisitive, but start noticing that adults are no longer as receptive to their questions as they claim to be. To find out more, they turn to their peers. Children of primary-school age become more introverted and prudish. Sexuality is dormant, and their moral development fosters a growing sense of shame about their sexuality. Sexual games take place during this phase. This has been observed among one third of eight-year-old boys, the percentage gradually increasing with age. By and large, the extent of sexual activity is lower among girls, but sexual interest also increases as they get older. Children (from the age of five and especially between seven and eight) like to display their own genitals and also want to look at those of other sex.
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btw, note the constant use of "Age Appropriate" teaching in all Sex & Sexuality Education programs...Kindergarteners don't get the same lesson as a 9 yr old who is very close to oncoming Puberty...
The EU program educates children properly so that they understand why their bodies/genitals are changing, and how those changes should be viewed...in ways that promote a healthy attitude, toward others as well as themselves....again, these teaching sessions are not "How To's"...or demonstrations...they are forums for accurately and properly answering questions that children have.
In short, such programs make sure that children grow up with healthy views of themselves and others in the universal realm of Sex and Sexuality...parents as well as teachers and specialists participate in the content of the programs...