Sexual Development and Education in Early Years: A Study of Attitudes of Pre‐school Staff in Greece and Scotland

Sexual development and relations between the sexes are thought to be a critical aspect in the overall psychological development and education of children and to have an important place in human motivation. Cultural influences differentiate the way societies conceive sexuality and sex education and this study surveys the attitudes and opinions of a sample of preschool staff in Greece and Scotland to examine these issues and to compare aspects of sexuality and sex education in the two countries. A questionnaire with closed and open questions was collaboratively constructed and translated for the purpose of the study. It was completed by samples of preschool staff from Greece and Scotland and the data was elaborated using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Results indicated that both staff groups agreed on the importance of sexual development, on some of the long term aims of sex education and on the moral dimension on sex education. There was also considerable overlap in the behaviours defined as sexual and on staff and parental characteristics required to provide appropriate sex education. Staff groups in the two countries differed however in the extent to which they thought families and preschool establishments should provide sex education, the age at which it should start and the requirements for staff. Implications for staff trainers in both countries are considered.