Willies on the beach

Little kids on Spanish beaches always seem so carefree

I think thy start to become quite conscious of themselves before 10 no? Mine is very particular about having privacy when getting changed. But he had no qualms at 5.

Ah, cultural defaultism and elitism.

You do know clothes aren't grown by humans naturally right? Those hung up about nudity, especially kids only, is a lot more weird than being intrigued about the subjective opinion and random cultural differences people show in everyday life towards the topic.

5 is OK, but not 10.

I suppose about 7 years is where I'd draw the line and I can't properly explain why.

If your in Spain? 135.

By 10 most get self conscious and choose to change more carefully.

Bear in mind some 10 year olds are headed rapidly for puberty. It's not a little child any more.

I have a 5 year old and I think it’s time to start priming him about future privacy. At the beach we hurry him up a bit changing or hold an ineffective towel and talk about how grown men make sure that when they change other people don’t see those parts because they are private.

He now sometimes asks me to turn away if he’s using a shared cubicle toilet and does the same for me. He also still changes anywhere in the house and runs around naked.

You can choose when to start introducing these ideas, but just don’t leave it too late.

My kids became conscious of nudity and wanted privacy long before 10, probably about 5 or 6.

I was abused as a child, so might of been a bit uptight and over protective myself, but I would not have let my children be openly naked in a public place at any age.

In our garden in the paddling pool, no problem, but on a public beach? no I would have changed them discreetly under a towel.

I would say that the cut off is about the same as single sex changing rooms, so about 8.
The reasoning behind this is that some girls start puberty as early as 8 and would be horrified to be standing next to a naked boy of the same age. Most children from 8 onwards would want to cover up.
OP at 5, your son is perfectly fine but they do grow up very quickly.

This reminds me of a time a few years ago. We holiday at PIL in another country. It's a bungalow. Our DS was about 2-3 and would run around naked after a bath with all and sundry there. This felt ok.and everyone would laugh. DN who has additional needs would do similar but he was 6 and it definitely felt a bit more 'off'.
Now mine are older and the eldest has always been very coy but my 6 year old will run from the shower to his room naked. Would never do this in front of guests and they both have changing robes for the beach.

In Spain last year there were plenty of naked bodies on the beach, it wasn’t even a nudist beach. We’re such prudes in this country.

I'd say until the child themselves feels comfortable. Agree with pps that i have family in several european countires and there are kids swimming, changing etc on the beach well until 6/7, as well as families using saunas etc together and it's perfectly normal

The 10 year old is at secondary school next year. Would you have walked around showing your genitals at that age? Very unusual for a ten year old to show his willy unless he has special needs.

Your 5 year old is fine but in the next couple of years or so, he’ll probably start changing in another room to you because he’ll want privacy.

Beaches attract paedophiles so personally I wouldnt let my child get changed without a towel wrapped round their waist.

Both fine. They weren't waving them about. The other mum sounds a bit uptight.

It's fine

In many European countries simply getting changed on the beach without huddling awkwardly under a towel is totally normal at any age. DH is Scandinavian and would just take his shorts off and put his swimmers on in the open if not for living in Britain where others would be offended.

In fact a few years ago someone reported a flasher on the beach by us. Further investigation revealed an innocent German tourist just getting ready for a swim.

I bet that’s not exactly how it was!

Why would anyone need to walk through a room that other people are presumably sitting in to go for a shower? Yes, you might undress a toddler downstairs, but older children just get undressed upstairs surely, so can't see why a 10 year old would be wandering around naked.

OK, so 10 is probably a transition age...but I would have been furious had she taken it upon herself to tell MY5 yo child to put his shorts on.

She sounds like an obsessed weirdo.

10 - no too old.
5 - ok but I’d still not be comfortable with it in a public place where people can perv or take pictures.

don't go to the USA!

For me school age is the cut-off for nudity because that is when they need to start changing themselves for PE in front of the rest of the class and going into their own toilets at school etc, so they need a bit of modesty for the sake of the teacher and their opposite-sex classmates and will be learning the PANTS rule etc.

Having said that, I'd change a pre-schooler quickly in a towel by a splashpad etc, but I wouldn't have let them run round without pants on in public at any age but am aware that some people do.

10 is definitely way too old for nudity outside the bathroom/changing area (even if they don't wear much round the house, pants are needed for modesty and hygiene!) - 10yr olds are on the cusp of puberty, starting to think in general terms about boyfriends and girlfriends, learning innuendo etc.

Exactly. Vulvas on the beach. Any better?