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?

[Booboostwo]

DH is right.

DCs enjoy running around naked, anyone who is put off her food by the sight of young, naked children has issues.

Nothing bad happens if you get dirt on your bum.

[Natsku]

I don't let my DD (5) be naked in public, not out of fear of paedophiles but because I don't want to make other people uncomfortable (although likely they wouldn't be as we live in Finland so we're all used to naked bodies but of course there might be tourists etc.) and I guess its just engrained in me that you don't run around naked in a park.

[Squiff85]

I dislike it, not because of weird people but because its just odd IMO!

I don't like it in the garden, let alone in public! Very strange

[Whatamuckingfuddle]

Hmmm...I felt this way. Now my children insist on stripping off anywhere and everywhere I consider people like you arseholes. Just don't look. Or take photos.

[TheBigRedBoat]

I don't like it. I wouldn't go the park naked so why would I allow my children to? It's the mixed messages and just a bit of a hygiene thing for me more than the paedo thing

[HostaFireandIce]

I wouldn't really worry from a protection point of view either, but I find it a bit of a strange thing to teach children is okay - adults don't run around naked in parks (generally) so at what age do you have to start telling your kids not to? 5? 8? 11? 14? I think my 3 year old would think it very strange if we took all his clothes off in a park. He thought we'd totally lost the plot when we encouraged him to take his shoes and socks off on the grass. I get that that's a bit British, but I am British and that's the society they're growing up in. I don't understand why 'being British about it' is a bad thing!

[Sallyingforth]

Totally harmless. Go and look for a real problem - there are plenty of them to choose from.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

It's nothing to do with being Prudish. It just isn't done, End of story.

[Sparklingbrook]

Yes, it just gives totally mixed messages to the children. Nothing to do with paedophiles or it being a 'real problem'.

[srslylikeomg]

Eye roll at the hygiene stuff, honestly don't give a hoot about the idea that a naked bum might have been on a swing or slide before my DC. As a pp said nothing bad happens if you get dirty, personally I would not bat an eye about a naked child near a paddling pool even in a busy park. I'd let mine dry off nude too. According to the Daily Mail/Facebook hysteria the paedophiles are all at the beach anyway.

[Sparklingbrook]

I wouldn't fancy sliding down a metal slide in the summer heat with a bare bum if I am totally honest. Ouch.

[Sallystyle]

I am not bothered about the paedo aspect, not at all.

I would be bothered by the possible sun damage and I don't want to see anyone's genitals in the park.

Pants on at least.

[Thatrabbittrickedme]

My children, aged 4 would have wanted to keep pants on. Because they understand about privates being private, it would not have been a 'liberating' experience for them, just something that felt 'off' to do. I think the main issue here is about mixing messages on the safety front.

In your own/a family members garden or house is ok, in a public park, not OK. Doesn't mean you are teaching them to be ashamed or prudish.

[paxillin]

Slide hygiene is no worry. Unless it is a water slide you cannot slide bear-bummed. You get stuck, skin isn't that slippery.

[Sparklingbrook]

Yes the slide probably not a good idea with a bare bum-no slip. Unless you were covered in Factor 50 maybe.

[wtffgs]

I'd keep pants on but that's because a memorable parenting moment involved plucking burrs out of DD's butt cheeks after she'd been playing in our secluded, overgrown wildlife-friendly garden.

Children are much more at risk from sexual predators well-known to them

[Muskateersmummy]

kickassangel if I was going to a place with a big splash pool as op mentioned I would take a swimsuit or at the very least a spare pair of clothes. If we turned up unprepared, she would have to play in another part of the park so she didn't get wet.

[queenofthepirates]

I think it's important for kids to see other kids naked-that way they start to know what the opposite gender have in their clothes and it's the very basics of understanding one another's bodies. There's nothing sexual about it but I want my kid to know that boys have willies and girls don't.

It's reasonably well known that the greater threat to a child is sexual abuse from a known person rather than a stranger. Children's bodies are normal and natural and should be enjoyed by them, not restricted.

Also it's kind of healthy to strip off, sunshine helps you ward off rickets and on that basis alone, I let my kid strip off if she wants. Or not if she doesn't.

[paxillin]

Just noticed what I wrote, Sparklingbrook

[ExtraHotLatteToGo]

I think it's lovely to see small children so totally free & totally at ease with their bodies - not even giving it a thought. It's a shame we don't all stay that way, let them enjoy it while they can.

[Sparklingbrook]

pax I never even noticed.