Can children of the opposite sex share a room/bed? However there is an age limit?
There is no easy answer to this question. Pre-school children can often share a room, however, once a child reaches the age of six or seven, they naturally become conscious about their bodies and differences between the sexes. Sharing a room with a sibling of the opposite sex can make a school aged child embarrassed and uncomfortable. Different sleeping arrangements should be made as the child ages.
In regards to sharing a bed, there should be enough room in the bed to allow the child to sleep comfortably. Once again it depends on the child, their age and their social/sexual development.
The above discussion relates to "average" children with "average" life experiences. Children who have been sexually interfered with should not share a room with opposite sex siblings and may not be able to share a room with same sex siblings. If the child exhibits sexually inappropriate behaviours then a child requires their own private sleeping arrangements to ensure their safety and safety of their siblings.
Birth
-sexual organs of babies respond in that boys will have erections and girls will have vaginal lubrication.
Age 1
-child is very much into touching and sucking
-child is learning self-acceptance and basic trust
Age 2
-child becomes of male/female differences
-child has a strong interest in body parts; touches genitals
Age 2-4
-child is very much into experimenting with "pee" and "poop"
-child enjoys nudity, movement, action
-child enjoys messing but needs help with personal hygiene
-child is experiencing self-control i.e. potty training - control of body masturbation
Age 4-6
masturbation
-child is experiencing/understanding sex roles
-child plays house, mommy, daddy, show and tell (genitals), name calling like pee face, poop head, fart face, etc.
-child has a need for privacy
-child needs to satisfy sexual curiosity (re: boy vs girl) through various games, - usually once satisfied the curiosity decreases as do games
-child is vulnerable to others
Age 6-10
-child's interest in sex is less obvious due to their private worlds
-child is involved in fantasies and developing boundaries and limit-setting for themselves
-child's games involve peeking, doctor, kissing, hand holding, "smutty" jokes
-Interest in same sex and own body
-Masturbation may decrease
-Menstruation can start as early as 8 years old
-Sexual development may precede emotional development
-Vulnerable to abuse
-Attitudes towards sexuality are set by parents and culture
-Develop crushes - child feels successful and competent
Ages 10-12
-physiology dominates - self image changes
-child questions "Who am I?" and values
-child experiences intellectual growth and has know-it attitude
-establishes sexual identity
-loses internal controls and needs support and guidance
Age 13-16
-child questions "What can I do?"
-explores roles through trial, error and testing
-may use a persona to cover sexual conflicts i.e., clown, sexpot, Don Juan, Jock, Good kid
-wants control of life
-pregnancy and STD rates are highest
http://www.caselgin.on.ca/frequently-asked-questions#8
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