Table 3.
Distribution of opinions regarding some behaviors observed in children aged between 3 and 6 years, sexual development and sex education (N = 159)
| True | False | I do not know | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n | % | n | % | n | % | |
| Children who are 6 years old may try to perform sexual behaviors they see on (kissing, sleeping together, etc.) | 150 | 94.3 | 9 | 5.7 | – | – |
| Sexual development and sex education start during the maternal period and continues through the life span | 150 | 94.3 | 9 | 5.7 | – | – |
| Children aged between 5 and 6 years may try to touch their mothers’ or other women’s breasts | 153 | 96.2 | 6 | 3.8 | – | – |
| The first information on sexuality should be provided by parents for their children | 150 | 94.3 | 9 | 5.7 | – | – |
| Children’s and adults’ sexual behaviors are not similar and are not performed for the same purposes | 143 | 89.9 | 13 | 8.2 | 3 | 1.9 |
| Children aged between 5 and 6 years sometimes may try to kiss other children or peers by force | 139 | 87.4 | 17 | 10.7 | 3 | 1.9 |
| Children should be oriented toward choosing gender appropriate clothes. Toys, colors, etc. | 139 | 87.4 | 16 | 10.1 | 4 | 2.5 |
| Children aged between 5 and 6 years may try to undress other children or peers | 122 | 76.7 | 23 | 14.5 | 14 | 8.8 |
| Sex education should be provided at kinder garden | 127 | 79.9 | 19 | 11.9 | 13 | 8.2 |
| Girls’ effort to look like their mothers and boys’ effort to look like their fathers is called identification and this process takes place in order to adopt sexual identity during 3–6 years of age | 130 | 81.8 | 17 | 10.7 | 12 | 7.5 |
| Children aged between 3 and 6 years may try to Show their genitals to other children or peers or adults | 121 | 76.1 | 28 | 17.6 | 10 | 6.3 |
| Sexual abuse is an adults’ sex-oriented approach toward a child and involves sex related acts. expressions and thoughts | 127 | 79.9 | 19 | 11.9 | 13 | 8.2 |
| It is important for the development of children aged between 5 and 6 years to know names of body parts and their functions | 131 | 82.4 | 19 | 11.9 | 9 | 5.7 |
| Children do not have sexual instincts | 37 | 23.3 | 97 | 61.0 | 25 | 15.7 |
| Children aged between 5 and 6 years can define/explain their gender according to cultural characteristics | 137 | 86.2 | 13 | 8.2 | 9 | 5.7 |
| Children do not need sex education before the age of 5–6 | 123 | 77.4 | 29 | 18.2 | 7 | 4.4 |
| It is normal for children aged between 5 and 6 years to play doctor and marital games and during these games children can take off their clothes and inspect each other’s body | 144 | 90.6 | 11 | 6.9 | 11 | 6.9 |
| Children start to ask questions about the father’s role and contribution regarding birth after the age of 4 | 129 | 81.1 | 15 | 9.4 | 15 | 9.4 |
| Children aged between 5 and 6 years can make gender appropriate toy choices | 149 | 93.7 | 7 | 4.4 | 3 | 1.9 |
| Children aged between 5 and 6 years may sometimes use sex related slang words | 137 | 86.2 | 15 | 9.4 | 7 | 4.4 |
| Sexuality is a healthy and natural part of life that starts at birth and continues through the life span | 142 | 89.3 | 14 | 8.8 | 3 | 1.9 |
| Children ask questions about sexuality (questions about birth and pregnancy such as “where do babies come from?”) before the age of 6 (at ages 2.5–3 in particular) | 135 | 84.9 | 21 | 13.2 | 3 | 1.9 |
| Sexuality and sex education start during adolescence | 41 | 25.8 | 113 | 71.1 | 5 | 3.1 |
| Sucking the mother’s breast is the first sexual experience of the baby | 67 | 42.1 | 76 | 47.8 | 16 | 10.1 |
| Parents, teachers and caregivers should be in cooperation in terms of sex education | 133 | 83.6 | 16 | 10.1 | 10 | 6.3 |
| Children aged between 5 and 6 years are curious about other people’s rest room and bathing activities and may try to observe them. | 137 | 86.2 | 13 | 8.2 | 9 | 5.7 |
| Babies touch their genitals when their diaper is changed and they enjoy this. This behavior is the beginning of taking pleasure | 126 | 79.2 | 21 | 13.2 | 12 | 7.5 |
| Children aged between 3 and 6 years take pleasure in touching their own genitals and being naked | 127 | 79.9 | 19 | 11.9 | 13 | 8.2 |
| Children should be punished when they use slang words with sexual content | 81 | 50.9 | 60 | 37.7 | 18 | 11.3 |
| Sex education should be provided when children start to ask questions about sexuality | 129 | 81.1 | 16 | 10.1 | 14 | 8.8 |
| Children ask questions about the differences of girls’ boys’ bodies before the age of 6 (at ages 2.5–3 in particular) | 129 | 81.1 | 16 | 10.1 | 14 | 8.8 |
| Children who are 6 years old choose clothes appropriate for their gender | 130 | 81.8 | 15 | 9.4 | 14 | 8.8 |
| Children should learn to name their body parts in an appropriate and decent fashion instead calling these body parts with their real names | 130 | 81.8 | 21 | 13.2 | 8 | 5.0 |
| Children aged between 5 and 6 years choose gender appropriate roles in games | 137 | 86.2 | 11 | 6.9 | 11 | 6.9 |
| Parents are more responsible in providing sex education for children compared to schools | 134 | 84.3 | 13 | 8.2 | 12 | 7.5 |
| In children aged between 5 and 6 years, mothers should answer girls’ questions on sexuality and fathers should answer boys’ questions | 125 | 78.6 | 25 | 15.7 | 9 | 5.7 |
| Masturbation is a part of childhood development | 64 | 40.3 | 73 | 45.9 | 22 | 13.8 |
| The effect of gender is observed in friend choices during 3 years of age | 138 | 86.8 | 11 | 6.9 | 10 | 6.3 |
| Some sexuality related questions of children aged between 5 and 6 years can be ignored | 132 | 83.0 | 23 | 14.5 | 4 | 2.5 |
| Family’s social system provides a model for children in their relationships with other people and teaches them many things | 150 | 94.3 | 6 | 3.8 | 3 | 1.9 |
| It is not appropriate for girls and boys who are 6 years old to sleep in the same room in terms of their development | 134 | 84.3 | 20 | 12.6 | 5 | 3.1 |
| Only girls can be subject to sexual abuse | 46 | 28.9 | 109 | 68.6 | 4 | 2.5 |
| Children aged 5–6 years can bathe with their peers and parents | 116 | 73.0 | 37 | 23.3 | 6 | 3.8 |
| Most children aged less than 6 years and at age 3 in particular are curious and talkative about their own and other people’s bodies, experiences and feelings | 146 | 91.8 | 11 | 6.9 | 2 | 1.3 |
| Children’s love for their caregivers, teachers or parents can sometimes be perceived as a romantic feeling | 147 | 92.5 | 8 | 5.0 | 4 | 2.5 |
| If you encounter a scene that includes sexuality while you are watching television with your child possible solutions for this situation are turning off the television, switching the channel or closing your child’s eyes | 137 | 86.2 | 12 | 7.5 | 10 | 6.3 |
| Total number of correct answers | ± SD | 33.15 ± 5.70 | Range = 17–40 | |||