Sexual behaviour is one part of a child’s development
Sexual behaviours are one part of overall development during childhood and adolescence. While most behaviours will be typical for a child's age and developmental stage, some behaviours might be unsafe because of how young the child is or because they cause harm.
Keep online behaviour visible
Children and young people grow, learn and connect online. In turn, aspects of their sexual development are expressed online be it through chat, apps, AI-bots, images or games. Tech-facilitated sexual behaviours require the same level of understanding and response as offline behaviours.
Acknowledge your role as a responder
You don’t need to be an expert to play an important role. Noticing a behaviour, understanding its context, and identifying when further attention might be needed are essential first steps.
Not a practitioner?
Parents and carers
If you’re a parent or carer seeking information or worrying about a behaviour, you're not alone. Find resources to help you understand child sexual development, support safety, and respond to concerns about sexual behaviour.
Children and young people
It’s normal to have questions about your body, feelings, sex and relationships. If you’re a young person looking for information – head here. We’ve got information just for you.