letting my children run around naked on a beach

[Goofymum]

A few days ago I took my 2 year old DD and 5 year old DD to the beach. It is a lovely beach and not very crowded, only 2 or 3 groups of people per large section of beach. I let my DDs run around naked for while before we went home (they asked to go naked). My parents were with me and they weren't bothered. The few families left on the beach weren't bothered either. But when my DH heard about it he was horrified. He said my 5 year old (she is very tall, perhaps passes for 6?) is too old to run around naked, other people would feel uncomfortable and it's just not right. We 'debated' it for a while and I thought I'd get the opinion of sensible people on MN - did I have a big lapse in judgement or was it OK to let my DDs run around naked?!

There was plenty of beach to take photos of without including my naked babes.

My 5 year old doesn't believe her bottom is private at the moment so not respecting her privacy is not relevent in this instance.

GoofyMum I don't think your DH is being entirely honest with you or maybe himself if he is saying that paedophiles weren't his main concern - it's just not sensible to say it's for the DD's sake/modesty - if they were bothered they wouldn't have done it! There is no age at which is it appropriate to cover up for their sake - they will let you know - trust me :)

Let them do it while they can - it wont be long before they want to cover up and be 'modest' - which is really variable for the first couple of years, one minute refusing to get changed into PJ's on their own the next getting their kit off in the middle of the beach

YANBU 5 & 2 are fine IMHO, I think children decide when they want to cover up, they sense when its not really appropriate.

Between 1 & 4 we couldn't keep DS dressed, he loved to be naked. Around 5 he started to get a bit of modesty ad now at 7 he's like a little Mary Whitehouse!

He would rather go in the sea fully clothed or not at all than run around in his pants, he will wear tiny swim shorts but won't believe me no-one can tell the difference-it makes a bit me sad to be honest

YANBU. Once that feeling of freedom about our bodies passes, it doesn't come back and your kids should enjoy it while they can.

Bit much, things aren't what they used to be. Shame. Would do nics on five plus.

I am much more comfortable seeing young children naked on the beach, than I am seeing young children wearing bikinis.

Nakedness at 2 and 5 would strike me as sweet and innocent, whereas stringy bra tops and bikini bottoms on on children of the same age would be creepy to me. I know it's very mainstream these days to see bikinis on babies and little girls, but I can't help but see it as part of the insidious cultural shift toward the premature sexualisation of girls.

I have no issue with the nakedness. It's quite sweet and as you are in Britain (I assume), and it was late afternoon, the UV risk would have been acceptable.

We live in Australia, where you'd be locked up for letting a child run on the beach naked. Not for any modesty related issues but because of the UV risk.

Even in winter, we have high UV risk, so hat's, sunscreen, long sleeve rashie (swim shirt) and board shorts are absolutely compulsory.

I think its lovely and natural. Your children are obviously not modest yet or they wouldn't have wanted to run round in the buff. Let them feel the sun on the skin. We can't live our lives in fear of the 0.5% (a guess) of the population who are paedophiles and may or may not have been on the beach.

Children running round naked on a beach is what summer memories are made of.

Yanbu.

"Let little bums run free" - love it

I think it´s fine if they were OK with it tbh.

And if other people would feel uncomfortable then imo that is their problem.

Agree with dione and diddl - YANBU.

The problem is on other people's minds - let them enjoy being comfortable in their own "skin" for now until other people's prudishness start constraining them.

I completely agree with cloudy days. Nakedness far more age appropriate than bikini for young child!

I remember deciding when I wanted to stop being naked on beach, my decision which my parents respected. Be led by your children - if they want ti be naked let them. It is one of life's joys!

Fwiw, I chose to cover up at a fairly young age - 5ish - but now I'm 30 years older have turned back into a naturist and will strip off completely if I have the chance (naturist beaches only - not anywhere, don't worry) as it is so nice to be unencumbered by polyester and Lycra! I will totally be led by my DS on this - 2 years old, loves being naked, and only covered up because of the sun rather than for modesty, so invariably strips off at around 4pm for last hour or so on the beach.

I had a massive shudder when a poster wrote-

I find it better to teach them modesty from the start and let them keep their dignity.

WTF??

I mean, children will tell you when they want to cover up. There is nothing wrong, dirty, undignified about little children playing in the sun. If they are being protected from the sun, then what is the issue? Talk about PRUDISHNESS!

I have a white blonde DS who I would love to have naked on the beach, but as his skin is luminous white, I fear he would burn badly, so it is a UV suit for him. When the sun dips, I have gotten him naked for a bit, but I am still fearful of sun damage.

When I see naked children playing on the beach I think it is charming.

I wouldn't let my kids do it, but I wouldn't be offended by others. However, you and DH are both the parents and in this instance, I think he should be able to say he doesn't want it to happen in future and you should respect that.

we did this a few weeks ago in bournemouth. No one batted an eyelid on beach and had a lovely time. As we were walking back to the car, 1 min off beach, a man walking past told me it was disgusting to see children like that. i laughed thinking he was joking at which point he told me i should be ashamed of myself. i was too stunned to say anything but afterwards was so angry. some people are just not nice!

"I find it better to teach them modesty from the start and let them keep their dignity."

They are 5 and 2! They are not flaunting their bodies!

They are children. Let them be named on the beach while they are still able (unless they become nudists as adults).

I would be more concerned if you did not let them be starkers. Good for the skin I say!!

I agree 100% with Greenwing.

My husband is a Police Officer in the Child Protection Unit and he tells me that paedophiles would seek out places like the beach for this exact reason.

For this reason alone I would keep my boys covered up outside. When they are in their own home they are free and safe to run around naked.

I find the references to dignity and modesty very odd

surely dignity is more to do with how you feel than how you look?

by introducing a child to the idea that nakedness is shameful you are robbing them of their dignity IMO

ds1 is 8 this month and still likes to run around the house and garden with nothing on

in fact he and ds2 (6) love nothing better than to get the hose out and have a naked water fight

someone on here once told me it was disgusting and irresponsible to let them do this

but I disagree

I would keep mine covered up personally.

I wouldn't be at all bothered at seeing naked children running around but its when they're bending down and legs everywhere that I sort of think its nicer to have a costume/shorts on.

Fully aware thought thats my issue.

I don't think YABU but I wouldn't do it and think from an anti-nonce point of view, it isn't the best idea really

enjoy whilst it lasts.

dd1 doesnt like to be seen naked,

dd2+3 often run around starkers. just last night, dd2 who is 8, ran downstaiirs naked to use downstair loo. who just laughed as she streaked past us.

Grensleeves I think the clue was in the word someone ! The other 400 posters couldn't see a problem with it

sunnyshine I can't believe someone would be so rude. I think this is one of the things that DH was worried about when he expressed his concerns ie. other people would think it inappropriate and disgusting, and that although DD(5) was happy she should start preserving her modesty. I think he's taken on some of the prudish qualities of his mum (she would say it was inappropriate for any age apart from a baby to be naked).

Like Greensleeves, I think it's a shame to introduce modesty and dignity at such a young age - let the children develop these hang-ups when they're good and ready!!

But unfortunately I will be looking over my shoulder for happy snapping weirdos now! What a shame.