ABSTRACT

In order to understand the effects of childhood sexual abuse, it is important to have an overview of the way in which children grow and develop. In this chapter we will consider some of the basic ingredients of good childcare and highlight the important milestones associated with each stage of childhood. By looking at what children need in order to thrive and grow, we will then be able to identify some of the more damaging ways in which sexual abuse in childhood can lead to developmental problems. In Part III of this book, some of the ways in which these early dif®culties can carry over into adulthood will also be explored in more detail.