Recognizing Your Teens’ True Intentions When They Are Sexually Deviant

As a parent, you naturally feel concerned about your child before he even reaches his teen years. You might wonder how to cope with common issues, such as experimenting with drugs and alcohol, curfew violations or bullying. Like most children, your son might be curious about sexuality. While much of this curiosity is normal, children sometimes move beyond innocent exploration into deviant behavior. However, you might wonder how to know if he has crossed that line, what his true intentions are and what you can do to help.

Basic Guidelines for Appropriate Sexual Teen Behavior

As a parent, you can take proactive measures by paying attention to your teen, watching his development and interaction with others and considering if his behaviors are typical for his age. As with nearly every area of development, children and teens progress at different rates when it comes to sexuality. Typical behaviors generally fall within a range on a spectrum. For example, children might play “doctor.” Generally, if both children fall within a similar age range and developmental stage, this exploration is considered normal. Children also begin personal sexual exploration by touching themselves, which might include masturbation. Parents should focus on the privacy of sex without shaming their child and instead should teach him that sex is healthy in the right context.

Types of Possible Teen Deviant Behavior

Possible types of deviant teen behaviors include:

1. Excessive sexual touching of himself that results in damage or harm

2. Regular attempts to look at other people who are naked

3. Inappropriate sexual touching ranging from fondling to sexual intercourse or

4. Forced or violent sexual acts.