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Image & Story
Submitted by Julie.
© 2006 PureNudism.com
Is naturism safe for children and kids?
It is clear that
being dressed has not kept children safe. The best
thing we can do is teach our children the
confidence to speak up when people do things which
make them uncomfortable. If they are not ashamed
of their bodies, they are much more likely to tell
their parents when someone does things to them
that they don't like. Whether nude or clothed,
children should know that being touched in certain
ways is wrong. Although good parenting is by far
the most important factor in raising children,
naturism helps to promote their confidence and
understanding about their bodies.
Don't children get confused as to when and where
they can be nude?
Everyone has to teach children when and where it
is acceptable to be nude. Naturists simply have
more places where it is acceptable. Unlike
non-naturists, we don't teach our children that
nudity is wrong. We teach them that some people
aren't comfortable with nudity and that sometimes
we need to dress for practical reasons (e.g.
weather).
The Nudist Lifestyle Fosters Friendship, Family,
Body Acceptance & Unencumbered Relaxation |
My 12-year old daughter came home from school the
other today and was clearly upset. She couldn't
wait to talk to me about something. Sensing her
anxiety, I casually asked, "What's up?"
She said, "Somebody at school today said
that when I go to Junior High next year, I'll have
to change my clothes, shower, and be naked in
front of my friends. Is that true?"
I raised at least one eyebrow and said, "I don't
know. It used to be true," in a slightly
disappointed tone of voice.
My daughter continued, "Well, I won't do it!"
"Why not?" I calmly asked.
"Because, unlike you, I don't like people seeing
me naked!"
I thought to myself, Hmmm, she's noticed. I
replied simply, "Why not?"
She said, "Because they'll make fun of me!"
"Why would they make fun of you and why would it
matter if they did?" I asked.
"I don't like being made fun of. And I don't like
to be seen naked," she said.
"Why is that?" I calmly asked again.
"Because I don't look like a supermodel!" she
replied with animated hand gestures and with
seeming frustration with my apparent lack of
ability to be able to understand the point she was
trying to get at.
"Well, none of us really do," I replied. At this
point it was time to eat dinner, and the
conversation ended, at least for the time being.
It's very sad to me that, despite whatever efforts
I have tried to make, my daughter obviously feels
some shame, or lack of measuring up to what she
thinks would be other's expectations of her,
associated with her own body. I did try very hard
not to teach that. To this very day, she has yet
to close a bathroom door while showering or taking
a bath. And regardless of who in the family
happens to walk into the bathroom, it seems to go
largely ignored. Most of the time she doesn't even
change clothes for her showers/baths in the
bathroom, causing her to take the hallway trip in
at most a towel. Not that many years ago, her
mother was alarmed because she tended to roam the
whole house nude around shower time, even when
friends were visiting. How times change, and how
quickly.
Where does this "teaching" come from? It surely is
difficult to avoid. She is clearly aware that I
don't hide from her, and probably assumes
(correctly) I'm not bothered in a locker room,
which she knows I visit daily. In fact, we've
talked about that quite directly before, when I've
taken her swimming at the same place. Too bad that
unless I miss my guess, there will be an
expectation of no nudity when she does get to
Junior High, thus reinforcing the developing
attitude. No doubt the unenlightened concept of
absolute "modesty in dress" will follow.
I'm left to conclude that my own very intentional
example of common nudity around the house is
insufficient to prevent my children from acquiring
society's commonplace "body shame." I have been
nude often in my own home, so much so that the
other morning, as I was getting ready to leave for
work, not having dressed yet, I was nude and my
daughter seemed to not even notice. At least
around bathtime and such, my children are also
openly nude around the house. Yet the body shame
has developed to a clearly unhealthy degree in my
daughter, despite my efforts. The messages of the
world have overwhelmed the message I have tried to
teach by example.
Those parents who think they are doing their
children sufficient good by restricting the nudity
their children experience to their home are
deluding themselves. No matter how attractive the
safety and security of this limitation may seem,
we are not making sufficient progress at
inoculating our children against body shame. The
messages from other sources are simply too
powerful and too overwhelming. All one has to do
is visit a public locker room these days and see
if you can find anybody at all under the age of 40
who is simply and comfortably showering nude and
changing their clothes. We have sold our hearts,
minds, and souls to those who would pervert and
make shameful the most incredible wonder and
beauty found in every single human body ever
created.
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