This article provides tips for engaging with and maintaining a dialogue with your child around their behaviors.

It’s important for parents to know what normal sexual behaviors are and to feel comfortable creating a safe environment where their children can explore and understand their bodies.

Many of the behavioral changes that children undergo are a result of their ongoing development. However, when the change seems drastically out of character or concerning it could, though may not necessarily be, a sign of abuse.

This page outlines general indicators of a child who has been sexually abused, a teen who has been sexually abused, another adult has been sexually abused, and someone who may sexually abuse a child. The occurrence of one indicator does not necessarily mean a person has experienced sexual abuse. Additionally, indicators of sexual abuse can vary widely from person to person.

This video discusses three common childhood sexual behaviors and how parents can respond. The behaviors are playing doctor, masturbating in public, and using sexually explicit language. In each case, the children may be asking indirectly for more information about sexuality. Parents are the primary sex educators of their children.