At what age do you stop your dc's from playing in the garden naked?

[Marne]

Dd2 is 5, she is happily playing outside naked, i think its ok, our garden is overlooked by neighbours (2 or 3 houses) and dh thinks i should not let her be outside with no clothes on at the age of 5. Dd2 has ASD and sensory issues, she's not keen on wearing clothes although if i asked her she would probably put them on but is happier without. What age to you stop them wearing nothing in the garden?

[IlanaK]

My 10 year old and his younger brothers regulary play in the sprinkler in the garden and then strip off and jump up and down on the trampoline naked to dry off. And we are very overlooked by neighbours.

[Oakmaiden]

In the garden? When they start to feel self concious about it.

[Marne]

Thank you, so dh is being a bit OTT? i'm happy to let her out naked in the garden, i do worry about her hurting herself if she falls though (fingers crossed it wont happen).

I don't think she will ever feel self cocious so it will be down to me to tell her when she's too old to do it.

[IlanaK]

I think if neighbours don't like it, then they shouldn't look!

[BabyGiraffes]

Any age...Maybe I'm a prude but I won't let either of mine (4 yrs and 18mths) play in the garden naked. What's wrong with bathing suits or pants at least? I also wouldn't let them run around naked on the beach or in the park. I just think it's unnecessary.

[festi]

when they choose not to them selfs. id say pre pubesent is ok, 5 is definatly ok. my dd 5 does but in unfamiliar company id encourage my dd not to, not sure why that would be different, but it would.

[MovingAndScared]

in the garden at least up to 9 or 10
I do cover them up at the beach or the park -but older one 5 wouldn't want to be naked then - and younger one is still in nappies so not on I think - both boys

[shoots]

This year I've stopped my kids aged 4 & 7 (who probably wouldn't anyway!) from stripping off in the garden as our (not very nice) neighbours took their trees down and stare straight into our small garden now. Just wouldn't feel comfortable about it - sad but true!

[Eveiebaby]

I haven't let DD 5 years old be naked in the garden as I do worry she may hurt herself if she trips over. She has run around in pants though with a t-shirt on top. Maybe as a compromise with your DH she could wear pants?

[ivykaty44]

my dd1 was still stripping off in the garden age 6 - this was to jump in the paddling pool and didn't want to wait around and put cossie on. I never stopped her running around the garden naked but think she probably stopped around age 7 as her own choice.

Dd2 stopped the nakedness stuff around age 4-5 as she didn't like the no clothes bit - so I went along with her wishes.

[timetosmile]

Remeber to slap on the suncream though, or she'll be

[ChasingSquirrels]

mine are 5 and 8 and will both happily strip off in the garden, naked water fights on the trampoline seem to be in order on hot days.

[whomovedmychocolate]

I will ask them to put their pants on when they reach their teenage years

[crkm]

my boys 8, 10, and girl,5, were playing very happily in the paddling pool nude this evening! they had a great time! neighbours overlook - but tbh i think they would moan more about the noise level!

[BabyGiraffes]

crkm you must be in the bit of the UK having a 'mini heat wave' then... It was foul here today with drizzle/rain most of the day. Definitely no paddling poor or nudity but dd1 had a good long splash in the bath...

[FebreezeYourJeans]

My ds 6yrs and 3yrs were naked in the sprinkler today, whilst dd 8 yrs chose to put on a swimming costume. I agree, in your own garden I'd be led by them.

[lastonetoleaveturnoutthelights]

Naked in the garden is fine until puberty / the child decides themselves they are uncomfortable and would rather wear clothes.

IMO anything else is a bit Victorian.

Let them run around naked unselfconsciously for as long as they can enjoy it: it'll never happen again in their likes, most likely!

[WhoseGotMyEyebrows]

I think it's lovely to see children running about naked. It's so free [hippy emoticon]

[FruitSaladIsNotPudding]

My dd loves running around naked and I'll let her carry on as long as she wants. Well, until puberty anyway, when it's highly unlikely she will want to.

I wouldn't have a problem with her being naked on the beach either.

[upahill]

My lads always had at least baggy shorts on.

Funny enough I was looking at photos the other day of them being babies and toddlers and everyone they had baggy shorts and a t shirt on except for being in the swimming pool or running round with a water pistol!

I never gave it a thought to let them go naked. They have never been naked on a beach either.
No issues over body or anything - it just never occured to me to let them go out like that.

[lastonetoleaveturnoutthelights]

likes = lives, sorry.

Any yes, I would let them run naked on the beach too. One of the joys of childhood, in my opinion.

[LittleMsH]

As long as they want. Agreed- it's one of the pleasures of childhood. Me and my siblings used to play naked in the park's giant paddling pool all the time when we were kids. I think it's a shame people feel the need to cover their kids up. We were at the beach last weekend and hurrah! naked kids. Have to say, i saw a lot of people delighted, looking on in affection at a happier, more innocent time when more kids ran about with their bits out!