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This article offers some recommendations from a practitioner in treating child sexual abusers. Drawing on the literature, the author notes one of the reasons for the high level of denial and minimisation of children's sexual misbehaviour is the view that children's sexuality, when errant, is too difficult to engage with. The international literature on the topic of children's problematic sexual behaviour reflects New Zealand's clinical practice. The literature and the author's clinical experience show that it is the most ignored and disadvantaged children - those who have suffered separation, neglect and loss, have been physically, mentally and sexually abused, or are in a cycle of multiple placements - who sexually molest other children. Responses to this group of children's sexual behaviour too often fail to seize the early intervention opportunity. The result of the failure is that more children are sexually molested and the sexual abusing of children cycle continues uninterrupted. The literature is clear about the advantages of early intervention and managing the problem behaviour in younger rather than older subjects. The author discusses prompt and high quality assessment, good recording and filing of information and collaborative interagency treatment services, which all offer possible improvements.

Social work now : the practice journal of Child, Youth and Family (31) August 2005 : 19-23