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Original poster

Naked children in the park - who is right?

497 replies

Oysterbabe · 08/05/2016 17:24

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?

OP posts:
hazelangell · 08/05/2016 18:10

YANBU I hate seeing peoples kids running around naked and would never allow mine to.

peacheshoney · 08/05/2016 18:11

I don't think it is a problem from a child protection POV.I just don't think people want to see a strangers genitals whilst they are sitting enjoying a picnic in the sunshine

belleandsnowwhite · 08/05/2016 18:11

I wouldn't allow my child to run around naked in public. Not with people having mobile phones with cameras and Internet.

DuckAndPancakes · 08/05/2016 18:18

DP and I both agreed that it's not really okay. Something of a bygone era.
The prevalence of dodgy bastards may not have increased, but technology has become much more advanced and it would be extremely easy to be taking pictures of those DC naked and exposing their penises and vaginas. That can then very easily end up being shared amongst many people, as with the location which will put kids in danger. Also, I don't think danger or otherwise I'd want people looking at pictures of my children naked or having the ability to.

Your being there to protect them doesn't stop them from being potentially exploited.

greybead · 08/05/2016 18:18

I think it's odd. Go naked in your own garden by all means, my dc do, even now they are 8-10!

But in the park - no, it's a bit rude to others IMO as well as being dangerous to yourself. I don't mind nudity in little kids - eg if my friend's dc stripped in my garden after getting wet in a water pistol fight, then no problem. But I don't like seeing random people either kids or adults naked. It's weird. I also don't like bare arses - if the kids are using any of the play equipment, it's really disrespectful to everyone else to have your arse exposed. What about the poor kid climbing a ladder or structure behind the bare assed one? Yuk. Also silly not to wear shoes in a park. Some apparatus has signs saying to wear decent shoes to climb. Also dog shit, broken glass etc. Should wear shoes IMO.

Also 4/5yo should be able to learn the difference between private and public. If it's ok to be naked in the park, then why not at school? It's not ok in either place.

Plus if you are actually a paedo, I imagine a park is a good place to go. I wouldn't risk my kids being paedo fodder like that, regardless of the size of the risk, it's totally and utterly unnecessary.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 08/05/2016 18:18

I'm with you. It's beyond unnecessary for children or anyone for that matter to running about in their birthday suit.
Yeah you're right there could be any paedohile lurking around. Not only that but surely there is the sun risk as well having their full bodies exposed like that.

Darrowisred · 08/05/2016 18:23

YANBU, unnecessary, not v clean, and not a view I particularly want when eating a picnic. Your own children naked are cute to you, but not to anyone else!

Ilovenannyplum · 08/05/2016 18:25

I wouldn't let my DS run around naked in the park, absolutely no way. I don't think it's necessary.

feralgirl · 08/05/2016 18:25

Meh. Not bothered about other peoples' DDs either way really.

As far as my own a concerned, now that DD is a bit older (4) I would probably encourage her to keep pants on ("bits are private") but I wouldn't labour the point.

DS is 7 and, given half a chance, would be windmilling his widger in your sandwiches so deffo pants on for him.

murphyslaws · 08/05/2016 18:29

Oh I'm actually not sure if I would or wouldn't. I think I'm more inclined bottoms on no top. But oh I'm really not sure Confused

Akire · 08/05/2016 18:31

Why no pants?? Surely if you missed fact was going to be warm and turned up at park this morning in jeans and jumper and had to strip off why would you take pants off??

Different if you put and there's sprinkles or paddling pool and you are not prepared but at the park?? They may be nothing wrong as such but I don't want to see bums of any age thanks!

Pipbin · 08/05/2016 18:32

I find it gross and rank

I find is sad that people find the bodies of children so disgusting.

Personally I don't think that it is OK in a place where the culture is to be clothed. But only because of convention. I don't think there is anything wrong with anyone being naked in appropriate places.

treaclesoda · 08/05/2016 18:37

I wouldn't let my kids run round naked in public either. It's not so much a 'paedophile hiding in the bushes thing' as just a dignity thing.

I've never seen anyone do it round where I live though, we're very prudish here. Had the shock of my life when I was on a beach in England a few years back and loads of the children were naked Grin

RedOnHerHedd · 08/05/2016 18:38

I don't think either of you are wrong. But personally, I wouldn't have let mine play naked in public, even though we're a household that sleeps and walks around the house naked (mornings usually, before getting dressed).
I'm sure the children were having loads of fun and the only thing I would be concerned about as pp have mentioned, is the suncream issue.

Ilovewillow · 08/05/2016 18:38

Personally not keen at any age as I don't think it's particularly appropriate and also I don't like them to have complete sun exposure.

treaclesoda · 08/05/2016 18:38

I don't care what other parents choose to do though, that's up to them. It just took me by surprise as I wasn't used to it.

ADiamondInTheRough · 08/05/2016 18:40

Who lets their kids run around naked in a park?! Anyone could be perving over them. Put them in a swimsuit at least.

PalmerViolet · 08/05/2016 18:40

DS2's sensory issues are so bad that it's only the fact that complete strangers have made him feel ashamed of his body that he stays clothed all the time. Sometimes to the point of not being able to change his clothes for a few days because he is so ashamed of his body.

Strangers made him ashamed of his body by loudly commenting on it when he was running about naked and happy in the park. We had no garden where he could feel the sun on his skin, no beach either so his choices were limited.

He was perfectly clean, didn't use play equipment with no clothes on and didn't annoy anyone, well, except by his mere presence.

somewheresomehow · 08/05/2016 18:43

No need to be naked in a park, stay in your garden if you want to be starkers especially will all the phones and stuff around

Original poster
Oysterbabe · 08/05/2016 18:43

OK so pretty mixed.
The sight of naked kids doesn't offend me at all and I'm not judging the parents of these two, just having a discussion on what we would be comfortable with for our own DD. Maybe I'll change my mind as she grows, it's impossible to know, but I don't think I will.

OP posts:
kickassangel · 08/05/2016 18:43

What do parents do if the kids have got their clothes soaked in the big splash pool thing the OP mentioned?

Personally, once DD was over 2, I tried to keep her clothed (she loved getting naked, though, so I wasn't always successful) but if we were somewhere like at the beach, our own back garden, or a park place with water to play in, then she always wanted to end up naked.

I soon learned to have a towel and spare underwear, but if other kids had been running round naked after playing in the water it wouldn't bother me at all.

ShelaghTurner · 08/05/2016 18:43

I wouldn't let my dds do it, one is a bit too old now and I'd be concerned about sunburn but 'gross' and 'rank'? Fuck that for a game of soldiers. What a sad, pathetic way to talk about small children.

MummyBex1985 · 08/05/2016 18:44

Children don't need to be naked in public. Personally I think it's inappropriate.

Ditto men with tops off. I just don't get it. I'm pretty sure I'd get arrested if i did that!

witsender · 08/05/2016 18:47

I don't think they would at the park, but there may be the odd bit of nudity at the beach.

Fiona80 · 08/05/2016 18:48

Why would anyone do that? Private parts are private. How can you instil this into children if you let them run around naked, at least put pants on them. I really don't c the need for it

Years ago I probably wouldn't thought much of it but everyone has a mobile now so what stopping photos being taken and being put on the net etc, if that happened how do u explain that then when ur child grows up to find this out, a bit extreme but I think outcomes need to b thought of.

Also the sight of it it just puts me off, esp the thought of them using equipment at the park, how unhygienic.