When your child starts exploring ‘down there’

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Children's sexuality development is a normal part of their growing body awareness. Even before they are born, children experiment with their bodies, including their sex organs. Sexuality play and experimentation, including touching for pleasure, continue into childhood as a normal, healthy aspect of development.

Sexuality development unfolds in a relatively predictable progression during the period between birth and three years. Infants and toddlers explore their body parts, including their genitals, begin to develop positive or negative attitudes about their bodies and experience genital pleasure.