Child Sexual Development: Glossary
Learn more about common words used when talking to your child about sexual development.
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Common Words That Are Used When Talking About Sexual Development:
- Gender: How a society or culture believes people should look, think, and act.
- Gender identity: How a person feels inside and how they show themselves with clothing, behavior and personal look.
- Masturbation: Touch or rub their own genitals because they like the way it feels.
- Puberty: The time when kids mature into young adults through physical and emotional changes.

- Genitals: External sex and reproductive organs (vulva, penis, and scrotum).
- Sexual orientation: Refers to the gender to which a person is emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to.

- Sexuality: How sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, interests, and behaviors shape and are shaped by one’s life and social context.
- Sexually transmitted diseases or infections: Infections spread from person to person during sex (vaginal, oral, or anal) or close sexual contact.





