Nude Family swim at Stoke Waterworld

I think they are naive to run an open family event (so not an event for the SW naturists Swimming society etc), sell single tickets to the general public and not consider that there will be some people who will alter to attend for bad reasons.

Come on...

I think a lot of people in this thread have severe hang ups about their own bodies.

I have hang ups, I freely admit it. But I hope I am open minded enough to see that my hang ups are probably not normal and that naturists probably have it right.

I find the idea that, because someone has had children, they are 'safe' to be misguided. An awful lot of child abuse happens within the family circle.

No.

If I was a naturist, which I am not, then I would really be resenting the implication that I am incapable of risk assessment and safe/guarding my own children.
Why don’t we just wind our necks in a bit here!

Is this an advert for the whole shebang?

Just to be clear, there is NO way, irrespective of conviction, to stop paedophiles attending these events with the exception of physically them entry.

Tbh I struggle to get worked up about this, I don’t see naked bodies as inherently sexual or something to hide from children, so I don’t see an issue with children seeing adults naked. I see the point made that children can’t really consent to being naked in front of strangers, but they can’t consent to being half naked on the beach either, which could also have paedophiles there, only with phones and cameras etc. I see plenty of parents letting their children run around naked on beaches, which I think is more of an issue given it’s not regulated in terms of who is there and like I said, people can easily take photos or videos etc, which would be a lot more difficult at an event like this.

Also, I would imagine being a naked male who is aroused by the sight of naked women and/or children might actually be somewhat risky given you’re surrounded by people and security cameras (and you’re naked), which makes it harder to hide that you’re aroused and therefore could alarm others and make it obvious that you’re not there for innocent reasons? I’m not a nudist or an expert on male anatomy (lesbian), but would it not be hard to hide sexual excitement (e.g. an erection) at an event like this?

But basically it's a niche interest. On the other hand it's not new, it's been around as a thing since the late 19th century and there are families that have been naturists for several generations. There aren't actually a lot of scandals that have come out of naturist groups, and you don't see tell all books by the grown kids of naturists about how they have complexes from seeing people naked without their consent as kid.

My point about naturists having children is that it is a core value and lifestyle. You don’t stop who you are because you have children. Naturism isn’t a hobby.
Core value? I don't think you fully understand what a core value is (or else you are extremely odd).

And those saying what the problem with pedophiles looking at children as long as they don't do anything. I still remember aged around 7 realising a man had positioned himself on the promenade above the beach so he could watch me get undressed As the towel I was using only screened me from people at the beach. I didn't understand why he was watching me but I still felt dirty and the memory stayed with me.

Adults can buy a single ticket?! Wtf?

I'm relaxed about (other people's) nudity in some contexts. A naturists arranging a family swim wouldn't tend to concern me (I'd be relieved my parents hadn't made me do that sort of thing and not too keen on using a slide someone's bare arse had slid down)

What I am absolutely not prepared to accept as ok is a naturist swim encouraging family's to attend that Is knowingly selling a ticket to a convicted pedophile and that is what we're talking about here.

To be honest, I don’t really see it as ‘practising’ naturism. It’s just how we are as family. So, within the home when it’s just us as a family, however anyone is dressed is accepted and doesn’t raise a comment or response. So, if someone walks into a room naked cos it’s warm, or half dressed or fully dressed, that’s all cool and it wouldn’t be of any matter to anyone. Same as if someone is showering in the bathroom, and someone knocks and is then shouted in, that’s cool too. We don’t have a lock on the door and we often don’t mind others coming and chatting to us if we are bathing for example.

We get dressed or undressed in front of each other and that isn’t an issue either.

As for outside the home, so, we came across a naturist beach when our children were small. They were practically naked anyway, as littlies often like to be on beaches. We decided to stay and visited that beach everyday cos we loved it so much. It was so freeing, the kids were happy, there was no pressure to hide behind towels trying to peel off wet costumes etc, it was just refreshingly lovely, and easy, and so simple. We just enjoyed it, and could see that for other families on that beach, they enjoyed it and were relaxed and happy too.

At that point we learned that naturism was a ‘thing’. We hadn’t even heard of it.

We found that it was also something you could do in England, by discovering British Naturism who are the UK naturist organisation, so we booked onto a family naturist camping weekend and there made our first naturist friends who we are still friends with today.

From there it was just exploring naturism both in England and abroad on holiday.

You mention ‘in public’ but it doesn’t feel like that (and also it isn’t anyway) - It’s part of a community, so you just understand straight away that you are with like minded people - and not just like minded but warm and friendly and welcoming. It’s a lovely community, non judgemental and just enjoying their naturist lives.

You also ask about my children being distressed, and my answer is no - hopefully you can see because as I’ve described above, it’s part of how we are and how we spend some of our time. Our children have grown up with it as part of our family life, they’ve made friends, enjoyed holidays, waterparks, camping... Nudity itself isn’t distressing, for us it’s just normal and a comfortable way to sunbathe or swim or chill...

We talk a lot as a family, so we discuss all sorts of things. Hence why I don’t believe naturism has any detrimental effect on our children’s abilities to create or enforce boundaries. Being in a respectful naturist environment role models what simple nudity is and should be and that it’s safe and comfortable. And from there, as I mentioned in a precious comment, everything around boundaries etc can be discussed as any parent would do...

I’ve seen naturists’ friend’s children older than mine grow up into adulthood, navigate forming respectful relationships, all from the context of a naturist upbringing.

There are so many ways to be as a family, to raise children. No family looks the same, but having naturism as part of it has only enhanced ours...

I hope that helps!

My point about naturists having children is that it is a core value and lifestyle. You don’t stop who you are because you have children. Naturism isn’t a hobby.

And if you are forcing children at any point in your life against their will, then that lies with you as a parent...

I’ve loved our journey with naturism as a family and it has brought wonderful experiences, close friendships and positive relationships with each other and how we relate to ourselves and our bodies and the wider world. I wouldn’t change it at all.

Okay I can see your point, if I may, do you practice in public (i.e. strangers, friends, extended family) or private (immediate family) places?

Are you confident that your children do not experience distress and/or that it doesn't affect their abilities to create and enforce boundaries?

Again I am not a parent and am not judging, I was a child once as we all were and am curious if I can make sense of what you are saying through my childhood lens.

I am not asking for a 'gotcha' or any disingenuous reason(s) - I am genuinely trying to understand your perspective.

Please do not feel obliged to answer unless you are totally cool with it.

Thanks in advance!

Naturists typically think that it's good to have a kind of body positivity that isn't built around sex, and to see all kinds of bodies at different stages of life. Rather than having to compare themselves to just young, slim, airbrushed bodies in sexual poses.

I get that I really do and think it is a beautiful sentiment but I don't find it pragmatic as a rule (but entirely based on my culture and life experience admittedly). I am fine with going to clothing optional beaches and I wear a bikini because I am not comfortable with people I don't know seeing my body nude (regardless of whether or not they look). Being in the presence of an unknown nude child would evoke great despair and discomfort for me.

Helping my mom bathe my great grandma and helping my grandma post surgery as a child and having them bathe me makes sense, showers/baths with my dad stopped at about 5yrs old (when I asked the dreaded question) and all of those innocent interactions that occur in a loving family dynamic with innocent purpose are understandable and expected IMO. What I don't get is family recreational nudity and nudity around strangers.

In regards to children I stand by what I said, respectfully however, if I came off judgmental my apologies perhaps I should have said it isn't appropriate in the US and from what I understand it isn't appropriate in the UK either (am I misunderstanding?).

Traveling overseas is awesome but very expensive as a US resident citizen so I have had limited opportunity to travel overseas beyond work trips. Respecting customs and 'doing as the Romans' is exciting and new but that stops short of nudity for me as a personal preference.

This (the concept of naturists and cultures with similar perspectives) is quite an interesting discussion.

Naturism is as normal for some in Western modern society as lots of other things are.

You’re fine with topless, cool.

If naturism is not for you and your family, that’s absolutely fine.

I’ve loved our journey with naturism as a family and it has brought wonderful experiences, close friendships and positive relationships with each other and how we relate to ourselves and our bodies and the wider world. I wouldn’t change it at all.