12YO beach attire

[TryingToBePractical]

we were on holiday last week and at our hotel there was a girl of around 12 whose beach/swimming attire was a pair of bikini bottoms (i.e. no top). She had noticeable breast development. I was quite surprised by this, I think because my (slightly younger and less developed) DDs are starting to get body conscious and so would not be comfortable doing this. I don't think I felt disapproving when I thought about it (a 12 YO boy would only have trunks on) but was definitely surprised.
Just wondered what your reaction would be - have never considered myself to be prudish before!

[CarefullyAirbrushedPotato]

no reaction, I'm comfortable with nudity.
Always slightly surprised at British alarm at breasts (duh me probably)

[DoristheCamel]

I have seen this a few times too. Mainly in Europe.
TBH - I think its us Brits are just so hung up on nudity. Every time we go abroad it makes me smile how uptight and un relaxed us Brits are compared to our continental friends. The only tjing we do relaxed us clothing and frankly the svruffs of Europe a lot of the time.
There are exceptions obviously.

[TryingToBePractical]

Interesting, I think the family were French. I don't think I was really alarmed more surprised given my experience of the body consciousness of girls around that age. Maybe girls that age in France etc do not have the same hang-ups!

[claraschu]

I think the tendency to develop body conciousness is learned from family and society; it's not something inborn. Some people won't go out without a niqab, but people from other cultures don't wear anything except maybe a few leaves.

People in the UK and the US seem a bit hysterical about making sure children are covered up.

[GraduallyGoneInsane]

Firstly are you sure she was 12? Kids develop at different rates - some of the girls in my DD4's Year 6 leavers do were noticeably more developed than my DD3 who is 14! It might be she was younger than you thought, and kids wear just bottoms quite happily at 8/9 years old!

Secondly, good for her if she wasn't self conscious. I agree, abroad everyone is much more relaxed! I remember being very amused when we went to Italy a few years back - the local kids were just in briefs, the British kids were in full UV suits!

[TryingToBePractical]

Not sure if she was 12 (that was my guess based on her height, appearance etc) - she could have been older or younger. But she had breast development. I don't think I would have been surprised (even if she looked around 12) if she had not started developing. my DDs (11) commented on it too (they are both still completely flat but have learnt some body consciousness from being in changing rooms with friends who are more developed), so I have taken the opportunity to say it is actually a good thing that she felt comfortable enough in her body to do that.

[Floop]

Breasts at any stage of development are ok on a beach, as far as I'm concerned.

[Mumzy]

Noticed quite a few women sunbathing topless on French beaches so maybe a cultural thing

[Theas18]

And ?

Shock horror woman topless at pool/beach outside the UK.

Sorry doesn't work for me as a red top headline even let alone anything that makes me personally give any thought too. Just don't ever go to an austrian spa. Full nudity all ages will make you clutch your pearls !

[HPparent]

I just think that British people are much more hung up about nudity and breasts than the rest of Europe. It was quite common even for children of 10/11/12 to be naked on the beach when I was young. Shame that the general perception now is bodies have to be covered to avoid "temptation" to paedophiles - as if kids/parents are somehow to blame.

[marne2]

I went topless in France when I was 11 or 12, it didn't bother me. My dd is 10 and is budding breasts, she would probably go topless if I let her but I don't, of course she can do what she wants at home ( and does so ) but if we were on a beach or on holiday she would be in a full swimming costume.

[marne2]

For me it's the thought of 'who might be looking', it's sad that we think like that.

[Artandco]

I think it's fine. Mind you I let my 3 and 4 year old go nude on the beach if they want to.

Many places we go have many women topless and some countries happily all swim nude regardless of gender.

I actually find a toddler in a bikini more bizarre tbh. Surely just bottoms fine or if really hot a rash vest against sun, but bikini top is pointless

[jesskent]

Just to say I was brought up in a family where nudity was normal and on holiday in France I was always encouraged to be topless whatever stage of development I was at