to let our kids not wear anything on the beach??

[loopymummy77]

We're lucky enough to live quite near the coast, so day-trips to the beach are quite common for us.

Today we were on one of our usual beaches, which was a bit busier than usual I think due to the warm weather. DS1 (age 6), DS2 (age 5) and DD (nearly 3) were all happily playing in their birthday suits - we usually let them decide whether or not they want swimming trunks/cossies on but quite often they opt for the nudist approach (they're the same with the paddling pool in the garden) and we've never made a big deal of it.

Anyways, after we'd been there a while, this woman comes up to DH and me and tells us we should make our kids put some clothes on. When I asked why, she said that it was because there might be paedophiles who could see them and that it was irresponsible of us to let them run around with nothing on. Her remarks made us feel so uncomfortable, we got the kids dressed and went somewhere else for the rest of the day.

Looking back, I'm now quite angry about the whole thing. I wouldn't dream of telling a parent what their kids should/shouldn't wear and how dare she call us irresponsible!! What annoys me even more is the fact we felt we had to leave as a result, as if it was us at fault! .

Am I being unreasonable? We've always kept a close eye out for our kids as I think any responsible parent should do.

[lesley33]

I think it is fine for children this age to run around naked on the beach. And if a paedophile were to take an interest, they would be interested whether your child was naked or not.

[lesley33]

TBH I have never thought about a young child's genitalia in this way. I am a bit shocked that anyone would think this way of young children

[oohjarWhatsit]

what if they wee or poo on the beach

you bury it, lol :)

[EvenLessNarkyPuffin]

The only thing I'd insist children of that age wore on the beach would be suncream and beach shoes (unless you're confident that there is no chance of any bits of glass etc being around)

[Whorulestheroost]

Yanbu, I think it's your decision as a parent to chose what you want to do with your own children. Personally I don't see the need for them to be naked and certainly would not want my kids to be running around the beach without bathers on but then that's just my opinion.

[Animation]

I remember being 5 and 6 - and wouldn't have wanted to be naked on a beach!

[lesley33]

You bury poo! That is disgusting.

Young children should wear a nappy. At 4,5 and 6 most children would be able to say they need the toilet - and you take then to the toilet. This shouldn't matter whether they are naked or clothed.

And I was quite happy at 5 to be naked on the beach.

[pigletmania]

Oojar that gross,if it was a dog you would have to clean it up same goes for a child. Go nude in your own garden, but on a public beach not everyone wants to see bits on show, especially if you allow an older child to go nude. You have to respect others in a public place

[Sirzy]

I really hope the burying poo comment is a joke!

I agree that young children should at least wear a nappy for that reason but when they are old enough to say they need the toilet and wait to get there then I don't care what they wear as long as they are covered in sunblock.

[lazylula]

I personally do not let my children go naked on the beach, I have no problem if someone else does but I wouldn't want them getting burnt bits ect and to the person who suggested a sun parasol or tent, I would have to follow mine around all day as they are never still for long! The boys are often naked at home and I have no issues with nakedness, I just prefer them to have clothes on in public.

[fatlazymummy]

I'm another one who never let my children go naked outside. They were either in nappies or swimming costumes usually with a t shirt on top.
re the paedophile issue, I go on what I heard an experienced policeman say [ie one who worked in this speciality].They do use images of naked children for 'fantasy' fodder. Although that specific child may be safe other children that he does have access to will not be. For that reason I stopped taking photos of my children undressed, however innocent they may have seemed to a normal person.

[Sirzy]

I think that's quite sad fatandlazymummy. I could understand not putting them on fb or in the public domain but to not take them at all just because of the tiny risk is sad IMO.

Perhaps I am in the wrong but the worry of pedophiles doesn't feature in my day to day thoughts and I have much bigger worries for Ds than a photo ending in the wrong hands.

[pigletmania]

Paedophiles aside, you might love the sight of your Childs Nekkid body, but not everyone will love the sight of your little darlings jammy dodger on display

[Rebecca41]

I dread the day when I have to tell DS1 (nearly 6) that he has to wear clothes on the beach. He's always stripped off in the garden or on the beach, it's just what he feels comfortable with. So I would have to instruct him not to, and explain that people may find his naked state an unpleasant sight they'd prefer to avoid. I don't suppose that will be a very nice thing for him to hear, and it will be confusing too. He won't understand why suddenly his body is something to be ashamed of.

I had always assumed (as someone else said) that children "self-regulated" this, so that when they reached an age where public nakedness was no longer appropriate they would simultaneously develop inhibitions. That seems to have been the way all other aspects of child development have happened.

[pigletmania]

Rebecca yes that's right not everyone will, in your home and in private you do as you please, but in a public place you have to respect others and that his what he will have to learn in time, it's about teaching societal norms and rules that everyone has to obide by

[WhereTheWildThingsWere]

Christ, I am amazed at this thread, I wouldn't have mine (6 and 3) naked midday as we are a hugely moley family and they wear uv suits, however both were dashing in and out of the sea butt naked at about 5.30pm last weekend.

They then went back to the campsite and had a bath in a trug in front of our tent, in view of all the other campers , they then did a few fast naked laps in the last bit of sunshine to dry off.

But then in all honesty adults doing the same thing would not make me bat an eyelid (though it may raise a giggle), jesus so many uptight people in the world.

I could happily eat my lunch with an anus in my eyeline, providing it wasn't actually sitting on my sarnie.

[pigletmania]

Well not everyone thinks like that everyone has their own views. Agggg confronted with an anus when eating

[Sirzy]

I don't understand why people find the human body such a bad thing. No wonder Brits have a reputation of being prudish!

[fatlazymummy]

sirzy this policeman didn't think it was a tiny risk. Some people tend to miss the point, it isn't placing your own child at risk, it is increasing the risk for other children.
Anyway my eldest child found his naked photos very embarrassing, and asked me to destroy them. I did and I don't feel in the least bit sad that I don't have any naked photos of any of my children.

[EricNorthmansMistress]

I don't find the human body a bad thing, I find the vulvas and anuses of strangers or strangers children to be private and prefer not to see them. It makes me uncomfortable. I don't think that's unreasonable.

[pigletmania]

Exactly Eric just because I don't want to see strangers intimate bits, does not mean I find the human body distasteful. Dd walks round the house nekkid and she seen me dressing and coming out the shower nekkid, just not in public

[Allinabinbag]

Why is it 'sad' to tell a child that when we are a bit older, in our society, we cover up our breasts and genitalia? I don't feel bad about my body or think others find it unacceptable, but I'm happy wearing clothes as this is the norm in my culture. Children have to learn this at some stage, I really think all this 'wait til they feel like covering up' is just hippy-rubbish like waiting til they want to stop soiling (I know a 6/7 year old whose parents are still waiting for him to have this desire), waiting til they feel like learning, it's all child-led to the point of stupidity. I don't find telling my children about what society expects to be oppressive, I find it to be one of the most important roles I have.

I find it easier to say swimsuits on when on the beach after toddlerhood (say 3/4ish). This fits in with teaching children about not touching their private parts openly in public (that's for private times), and wearing pants around the house if we have visitors. Not remotely oppressive, plenty of time for running round naked when no-one else is about, but I can't see the reason to do this on a beach once they are above about 5, especially given it saves on sun-cream. A 9 year old's body is not more offensive than a 4 year olds, but most people don't argue that a 9 year old should be naked on the beach.

[WhereTheWildThingsWere]

I would argue that a nine year old should be naked on the beach if he/she wants to.

Still very much a childs at that age imo.

Hippy rubbish .

[Animation]

I am assuming then that there isn't an issue about 5-6 year olds actually feeling self conscious themselves about being naked. There seems to be a general consensus on here that 5-6 year olds are OK about wearing no swim suits.