Question

As a therapist why is it important to know the various life span development stages in terms of educating children and adolescents about sex? Use specific examples in terms of age appropriate information as well as general time frames when this information should be presented to these populations. Additionally, cover how this information might be used in therapy.

Answer 1

Usually counselling and guidance psychologists who work in school settings or are in private practice educate students about sex, plan intervention and provided therapies as per the requirement of the case. The term sexual education has become a burning topic nowadays as there are a variety of crimes that have been reported at early age. Small children and minors are easy target for sexual offenders as the child him/herself has no idea what bad has occured, at times small children can not even verbally report about the act. It becomes duty of the concerned therapist or counsellor to address such issues in advance as a precautionay measure, which requires a good knowledge of stages in life span development. As it is useless to explain a 3 year old preschool toddler to explain about sex and sexual offences, as he/she might not understand it at such an early stage. Hence, toddlers are explained about the concept of "good touch and bad touch" at early stage. While at around 9 to 11 year old (before the onset of puberty) children are generally taught about various hormonal changes that occur in sexual characteristics during puberty and reproduction. Children can be taught about sex and various negative implications and risks involved in unprotected intercourse like: STD's and teenage pregnancy etc, they can also be explained about benefits of having safe sex and various precationary measures that can be taken, children can also be explained about the concept of "consent" in sexual matters and can be alarmed against molestation,harassment of any sort etc.