Children's sexuality

[katelyle]

Does anybody have an opinion/thoughts or knowledge about when a child's sexuality becomes apparant? I ask because I was with a 7 year old boy I see a lot of today and I suddenly thought"He's gay". I then mentioned it very circumspectly to my mother who said she had been thinking the same thing for some months. Has anybody ever felt like this about a child? And can anyone give me some advice about what I can do to make life easier for him as he grows up if I'm right without hugely confusing him if I'm wrong?

Who is he in relation to you?

I agree there are some children who it is easy to predict but I also believe it's always worth remebering that predictions can be wrong. I don't think there is anything in particular you can do except being totally non-judgemental about whatever the child wants to do or be. And also if the topic of homosexuality arises as they get older, being as non- stereotyped and open as you can be in the same way you would to any child.

friend has 2 dds. One very girly, the other since she could talk would only ever wear boys clothes and play with 'boys' toys. Friends answer is OK if she wants to wear boys pants at least she can wear really nice boys pants.

He's my nephew. And I'm not talking about anything as stereotyped as "girliness" - I really can't define the feeling. He spends a lot of time with me and I am the original Guardian reading, youghurt knitting, base-embracing politically correct 70s feminist, and I try to organize my family along the same lines so I should be able to manage the open non-judgemental thing. But I had just never thought about when sexuality becomes apparent. Can it be as early as 7?

when I was 6 years old, I had a sexual experience with my best mate also 6 years old. It was pleasurable and was with my and his consent. The only bad things about it was we were both too scared to do it again, as we some how knew we would get into terrible trouble if caught, and be rejected by our parents.