Customer Reviews

Understanding Your Child's Sexual Behavior: What's Natural and Healthy

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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This is a wonderful book explaining in simple language various levels of sexual behvior and development. Helpful to parents and professionals, you will be able to identify and recognize differences between normal, inappropriate and troublesome sexual behavior. Also helps parents understand how to talk to their children about sex at the child's developmental level.

We live in a time when fourth graders are suspended from school for "sexually harassing" little girls on the playground and the names of 10-year-old boys names are published as registered sex offenders Texas. Some publicly proclaim, "sex before 8 or it's too late." And the American Psychological Association was forced by a nationally known a radio advice show hostess to explain itself for publishing perfectly good, peer reviewed literature about the lasting effects of child sexual abuse, because it suggested the some politically unpopular (though scientifically supportable) conclusions. A sense of balance and fairness is badly needed and Dr. Toni Cavanagh Johnson provides a good dose of it in this book.

Children are sexual people and she isn't afraid to say so. But she also describes how their sexuality is different from adult sexuality and how the two don't mix without risking dire consequences for the child.

Dr. Cavangh Johnson describes normal childhood sexuality as one end of a continuum. Most children fit that description. A few are on the other end - sexually aggressive children who assault others. In between are sexually reactive and sexually pre-occupied children, also carefully described. Concerned adults are given guidelines for assessing their child's sexual behavior, putting it in context and acting without over-reacting, when action is indicated.

As a practicing psychotherapist and Continuing Education Instructor for Child Welfare social workers, I'm whole-heartedly recommending this thorough, yet short and easy-to-understand book to parents, foster parents, teachers, social workers and anyone interested in sexual development and sexual behavior of children.

While this is not an introductory text, it does cover many topics that are areas of concern for parents. Since there are so many children who have been exposed to adult sexuality, abused, or just experimenting with growing up, it is important for parents and clinicians to be able to access accurate and uncomplicated information. Dr. Cavanagh-Johnson has articulated this well in this book. A very good read.

We live in a time when fourth graders are suspended from school for "sexually harassing" little girls on the playground and the names of 10 year old boys names are published as registered sex offenders in the state of Texas. Some publicly proclaim, "sex before 8 or it's too late." And the American Psychological Association was forced by nationally known a radio advice show hostess to explain itself for publishing perfectly good, peer reviewed literature about the lasting effects of child sexual abuse, because it suggested the some politically unpopular (though scientifically supportable) conclusions. A sense of balance and fairness is badly needed and Dr. Toni Cavanagh Johnson provides a good does of it in this book.

Children are sexual people and she isn't afraid to say so. But she also describes how their sexuality is different from adult sexuality and how the two don't mix without risking dire consequences for the child.

Dr. Cavangh Johnson describes normal childhood sexuality as one end of a continuum. Most children fit that description. A few are on the other end - sexually aggressive children who assault others. In between are sexually reactive and sexually pre-occupied children, also carefully described. Concerned adults are given guidelines for assessing their child's sexual behavior, putting it in context and acting without over-reacting, when action is indicated.

As a practicing psychotherapist and Continuing Education Instructor for Child Welfare social workers, I'm whole-heartedly recommending this thorough, yet short and easy-to-understand book to parents, foster parents, teachers, social workers and anyone interested in sexual development and sexual behavior of children.

This book is an excellent reference for educators and parents of a child who has been abused, but it may not be what the average parent is looking for. If you are simply looking for ways to help your child develop a normal sexuality, a different book would be better. If you have a child with a persistent sexual behavior which disturbs you, then this is your book. It can help you decide what is normal, what is not, and what to do next. Some of the statistical information is confusing and poorly explained, but the practical information could be invaluable.

Dr Johnson answers questions that adults have concerning childhood sexuality. I had the previlege of reading some of the prepublication manuscripts. The book sets straight, in layman's terms, many myths and fears that parents, grandparents and educators or anyone else interested in the heathy sexual development of children need to know about.

From a parent perspective, this book is very readable, and provided helpful information, especially one very clear chart that helped me to determine whether to be concerned about my duaghter's behaviors, and whether I needed to consult with a professional.

It is a shame that this book is out of print. It contains information that is vital for anyone working with children to gain an understanding of what is normal and expected sexual behaviors and those that are worrisome. It completes my library. Toni Cavanaugh Johnson presents an objective summary that is useful to teachers,therapists, and parents in a straight forward manner. Being out of print appears to have escalated the price for remaining copies. For me, the price was worth it.

Michael R. Wilson, LCSW, BCD