Age of attraction

Age of attraction, or AoA, refers to the age range of persons to whom a someone is most attracted. The term is in common use among the minor-attracted community. One's AoA may be wide enough so as to include all people above or below a certain age, or may be restricted to a more specific selection of ages, depending on the person's individual preferences. Sometimes those whose AoA favors prepubescent children (often under 6) may refer to themselves as little boy lovers or little girl lovers. Those whose AoA favors teenagers (who have reached puberty) may refer to themselves as teen boy lovers, teen girl lovers or ephebophiles. Factors in one's age of attraction can include both the physical and emotional development of the person. As most commonly used, the term denotes a sexual as well as an emotional attraction.

Some people resist claiming any specific AoA for themselves, since they find that the ages of the people they are attracted to vary too much. They argue that a person's age says little of their attractiveness. Others, wishing to express their special preference for particular ages without excluding a broader range prefer the term primary age of attraction.