Naked children in the park - who is right?

[Oysterbabe]

We're currently enjoying the sun in the park with DD 4 months (who is enjoying it by being asleep in the shade) It is packed with families as you'd expect. In the group next to us there are two little girls, I'm going to guess about 4 and 5, who are having a lovely time running around and playing completely in the buff. I was saying to DH that I wouldn't let our DD run around naked at that age in such a public place. There could be any number of dodgy characters watching on and getting off on it. He thinks it's fine, that they're still young enough to get away with it. Also in the unlikely event there is a lurking paedo, they're completely oblivious and it's not going to hurt them at all, you can't live in fear.
Who's right? Am I being too Daily Mail paedo round every corner or is it correct to be cautious about such things?

[NeedACleverNN]

Actually I have swum (swam?) naked and I must admit it did feel very freeing.

The water wasn't as cold compared to wearing a costume and it just felt lovely.

I was only a kid and it was a private pool in our holiday villa but my mum still wasn't very impressed. Kept muttering about how it wasn't fair on my dad to see it

[Bambambini]

Well, i've sunbathed and swam with pants on and pants off. Pants off was much nicer. It can just feel lovely to be naked. Obviously many little kids agree or they wouldn't keep stripping off - like mine used to do. If clothes didn't feel restrictive to some of them, then surely they would always keep them on.

[mygorgeousmilo]

YANBU I would only let mine run around in pants. I find it a bit odd that people don't mind it. The most bizarre case of this that I have seen though was people letting their kids do it at the Olympic park in February! Whilst they themselves were wrapped up, their kids were icy white playing naked and barefoot in the water!

[PeppermintPasty]

I am surprised at how self righteous people are. This is not a pleasant thread. And no, I'm not saying that because people are disagreeing (with me or anyone else), there are some very unpleasant, superior and smug posts. Actually, in almost ten years, my first experience of such things on here.

[Sparklingbrook]

Yes mygorgeous there's some water fountains by us, it comes out of the pavement as a feature. One faint bit of sun and the parents are stripping their poor DC down to their pants to play in it. Brrrr.

[AverysillyoldHector]

I wonder when things changed and children running around starkers stopped being the norm? Our DCs' generation (young 20s) were often playing with nothing on, including on the beach. Yet now people seem to feel really strongly that its no longer OK, that its unpleasant, inappropriate or is actually about parents showing off in some sort of way.

Am genuinely interested in what has brought about this change. Is it the internet?

[PeppermintPasty]

Some people haven't changed. -All my friends who had kids the same time as me, (and who are a good ten years younger than me), let their kids do it, particularly at the beach. Our first born are all 9 or 10 now.

I wonder if location is relevant to how a person feels about it? I live in a remote place, the norm round here was, well, not to worry if clothes came off.

[Sparklingbrook]

I am the wrong side of 40 and didn't run around naked in public places as a child.

[PeppermintPasty]

Me too, and neither did I! But I just can't get het up about it with my dc. They don't do it now, and that's fine too.

[FeckOfffCup]

there are some very unpleasant, superior and smug posts

Like the ones accusing posters of being: hysterical, prude, repressed, barking mad, unhealthy, damaging, 'fucked up' with 'poor kids', teaching their children to be ashamed of their bodies, all because they don't let their kids be naked in public?

[FattyNinjaOwl]

I'm in my early 20s and didn't run around naked in public. In my back garden? yes. On the park? No.

[FeckOfffCup]

I'm mid 20s and didn't run around naked as a child. Neither was I told not to - it was just never mentioned and my parents never automatically stripped me naked. There was never a big struggle going on with me trying to strip off and parents shouting 'no! Cover yourself up you vile creature!' I was perfectly happy pottering around at the beach in a pair of swimming bottoms. I wouldn't have wanted sand in my bits anyway! Or sunburn down there.. Ouch!

[PeppermintPasty]

Yes FeckOfff! I mean from all sides. No need to be snippy.

Fwiw, I have said in general terms that I find some of the views on here oddly prudish. That is my view, and I do not think its an unpleasant or smug thing to say, but I daresay some would disagree.

[katemiddletonsnudeheels]

It's true that the idea of a child being naked in public was once more expected, I suppose, for want of a better word.

I think it's changed for two reasons.

Firstly, camera phones, the Internet and an increased knowledge that a child being naked just isn't a benign act.

Secondly, I think we see children as people now. In the same golden age where children skipped around naked, there were appalling crimes committed against them they had no recourse against. Rather than being an object they are now seen as a human.

[FeckOfffCup]

Well I've just skimmed the thread again peppermint and the vast majority of nasty self righteous posts are coming from the 'you're all a bunch of hysterical prudes' camp

[Bambambini]

Feckoff - not that you are biased of course. I read it the other way - though there was a few not so nice comments from the some clothes off fans.

[PeppermintPasty]

Yes, I'm afraid I read it the other way too. Now there's a thing, different people have differing opinions!

[Laythelawdown]

I haven't read the whole thread but I agree with the OP. Having worked with sex offenders for 16 years I wouldn't let my child run around naked in public.

[sambly]

Sad.

1. Children love being naked. Have you seen how happy they get?
   Let them just enjoy it, don't impose shame of their bodies on them.
   Embarrassing? Don't look.
   Teach them "my body" and confidence to assert that absolute ownership , I would be concerned about saying anything to encourage shame about her body.
   
2. I also recognise your fear, it's everywhere. And the fear of censure.
   
   It's tricky. Dd is 5 and LOVES being naked, but when she did in an open mixed shower at a pool recently I explained people don't take their clothes off there. I dunno. It's tricky.

[sambly]

Oops my phone was being slow, wow um, I didn't see most of that before posting, and not going to now, time for sleep.
Whether you are naked or just knackered I wish you all goodnight

[Boobz]

Because Sparkling he already thinks MN is full of women who are uptight and think there is a paedo in every bush and this thread seems to confirm it!

I had a bit of a procrastinating day yesterday and wandered onto 2 threads where I seemed to be in the minority (this one and the potty in a trolley thread) and I wondered if I was becoming a complete slattern in my standards/thoughts, so sense checked with DH and asked him who was BU and he agreed with me on both counts and said that life according to the MN jury would be a very sad one indeed... as Sambly said above - let's let children enjoy themselves!

I am now actually going to do some work!

[Pixienott0005]

Why do they need to be naked though? I wouldnt let my kids run in the park naked at any age. Even toddler stage. Kids can have fun with clothes on at the park they don't need their bits out on view.

[Sparklingbrook]

Well I think you are being a bit selective about the threads you are discussing with him in that case Boobz.

If I even try to tell DH about any AIBU threads he is just .