Verbal and Behavioral Expressions of Child Sexuality Among 1–6-Year-Olds as Observed by Daycare Professionals in Finland

An alternative term to make comprehensive sexuality education more acceptable in childhood

“…• ECEC professionals. In May 2013, via e-mail, we asked (1) the person who organises training days for ECEC professionals, (2) the person who organises the nationwide annual trade fair on ECEC and (3) municipal district managers of ECEC to forward a link to our Questionnaire A to professionals in the field (Cacciatore et al 2020).…”

“…Secondly, we examined the possibility of replacing the Finnish term for 'sexuality education' for this age group in order to distract attention from adult-like sexuality and better reflect the content of childhood SE. We constructed a new term based on the most common topics of children's verbal expressions and behaviours related to SE themes in day care (Cacciatore et al 2020). Over 50% of professionals and parents had stated that children in the groups they taught or at home asked daily or weekly questions about different body parts and their functions (such as the navel, ear, 'willy'/genitals, buttocks) and hygiene (such as the appropriate way to clean the buttocks/genitals, teeth and hands).…”

“…Over 50% of professionals and parents had stated that children in the groups they taught or at home asked daily or weekly questions about different body parts and their functions (such as the navel, ear, 'willy'/genitals, buttocks) and hygiene (such as the appropriate way to clean the buttocks/genitals, teeth and hands). Over 50% of professionals and parents had stated that children talked daily or weekly about liking, infatuation or love for other children or familiar adults (Cacciatore et al 2020). On the behavioural level, children were most commonly observed to express their emotions easily and to show lots of feelings of infatuation, affection and liking towards each other, for example, by 'kiss chase' games.…”

“…Nevertheless, children play sexual games and ask abundant questions in day care (Cacciatore et al 2020;Larsson & Svedin 2002;Sandnabba et al 2003), where professionals need to make spontaneous decisions about what are developmentally and culturally correct and health-promoting, age-appropriate answers to infants and with a wide diversity of children (Davies, Glaser & Kossoff 2000;Leander et al 2018). They need tools and competencies to enhance parents' and coworkers' knowledge and acceptance of the subject and to foster children's rights and healthy development.…”

“…The content of SE for young children should respond to this need (Cacciatore, Korteniemi-Poikela & Kaltiala 2019;United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO, 2009; United Nations Population Fund UNFPA 2014; WHO Regional Office for Europe and BZgA 2010). In our survey study among early childhood education and care (ECEC) professionals and parents of 1-6-year-olds, the most commonly observed sexuality-related verbal expressions among children were comments on the body, and the most commonly observed sexuality-related behaviours were openly displayed emotions such as infatuation for one other (Cacciatore et al 2020). Hence, young children's SE should provide especially knowledge, skills and positive attitudes about the body and showing emotions.…”