The Sexualization of Early Childhood

Share your reaction to the topic of the sexualization of early childhood. Well after working with children for almost 12 years, the topic of sexualization in Early Childhood doesn't surprise me. I have seen children do some interesting things in regards to sexualization.

Provide three or more examples, from your personal or professional experience, that further illustrate the exposure of young children to a highly sexualized environment. I have seen children laying on their mat humping their mat and moving back and forth in a sexual maneuver, I have heard about little boys pulling little girls pants down underneath play structures, I have heard about kindergarten age boys putting their private into a girls mouth, and I have heard about a girl (age 3/4) tell a little boy to put his hand in her pants.

Explain the implications this may have on children’s healthy development. Include ideas you might have, as an early childhood professional, to best respond to these concerns and to reduce the negative impact on children. Children exposed to sexualization will mostly continue to grow into that sexualiztion and maybe become very sexually active child/adult. Then there are some children who may grow out of this phase and grow up to become a respectful child/adult. It's hard to determine how this would affect a child development, they will discover their sexauality, yet one again, it's hard to determine how it will affect their development. The best way I see it, is for parents/families to address the issue as soon as it arises and not think it's funny and let it slide.

Describe the ways in which your awareness of the sexualization of early childhood has been influenced and/or modified by studying the topic this week. The awareness didn't start with this course, so it didn't modify or influence my awareness at all.