Child Sexual Abuse
Stages of Development & Interviews: There is a general range of sexual behaviors that are age appropriate and developmentally normal for children. The word “generally” is stressed here because every child develops at his or her own pace. What is age appropriate for one child may not be for another. One can expect, however, that as most children mature, their ideas and attitudes about sexuality will follow a predictable progression. Having a good working knowledge of these developmental stages is critical to officers interacting appropriately with children – especially in interview settings and in recognizing signpost behaviors of abuse.
