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Recently there have been several articles in the news regarding how old is too old to let your children run around in the nude. The Salt Lake Tribune's article examines several families, including a family that primarily resides in France. The ordinances in Utah do not specify an age as to which being nude in public is considered illegal. For example, Vernal City's Section 5.72.225 on nudity simply states: "Except as otherwise provided herein, appearing nude in a commercial establishment is prohibited."
The New York Times' article suggests it depends on the generation and culture as to what age adults feel it is appropriate to be naked in public.
A poll from knoxmoms.com, a discussion group for mothers in Knoxville, TN, on this topic set the appropriate age at under three years old. By this age, children are aware of their bodies and of their gender.
Naturally, the specific circumstances may call for different ages. You may think it is appropriate for a 5 year old to run naked through the sprinklers in their own back yard, but not to change in front of others at a swimming pool.
What is your opinion? Leave your answer in the comments.
Comments
After age 3, I don't allow my kids to be naked except for at bath time and when changing clothes
Younger than 5 is ok
I think kids should be made aware of their bodies as early as possible. Knowing they have "private ares" will help them to be aware if anoyone is ever inappropriate to them.
O.M.G. you people amaze me. Michael i agree with you that kids should be aware of there bodies but to tell a child to cover up your body puts in their mind that there is something wrong with it. Allow your children to choose if they want to cover their bodies. Children see nothing wrong with being naked until you tell them its BAD. My daughters have never been told to wear clothes, and both of them are reasonable in their nudity. They both still nude sun bathe in our back yard and at beaches that they feel comfortable at. Being naked is only bad when you tell your children it is.
Our daughters are now 16 and 14, carry a 4.0 GPA. and are very confident in everything they do. ARE YOURS?
I wonder what these now 16 AND 14 year old girls of Eric's are going to be like when they are 18... porn? therapy? raped and beated somewhere? No one cares about a young, naked girl's 4.0 GPA when it comes to any and many of the creeps we have in our world. What will you say when your 14 year old girl is in her first kiddie porn, willingly or unwillingly? Or your 16 year old...? What about when she tells you that she has been molested on the beach she sun bathes naked at? Makes me wonder just now naked and confident they will want to be then and just how proud of their confidence in being comfortable naked will make you really feel? Or maybe you are one of the creeps who just likes to look at young girls (including your daughters) naked and that is why you let them roam so freely in the nude..... hmm.....
The scary thing about girls ANY AGE sun bathing naked ANYWHERE is not how the girls feel about themselves, but what perverts are out there unknowingly taking pictures of them to be put on you-tube or porn sites. It happens - take the national female sportscaster who was recently photographed naked in her own home, and now humiliated by published pictures. We have to teach our kids, both genders, to take care of themselves for SAFETY reasons. Feeling unashamed of your own body is great, but protecting yourself is greater.
Find your nearest nudist resort or swim club to assure safety and privacy! maryland area naturist association is the destination for Baltimore!
Gabriella... I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU!!! Some one should really sit down and have a chat with Eric and his daughters :D
I love when I get the last word on things like this! It makes me really feel like maybe I opened Eric's eyes and taught him a thing or two ha ha ha
Kids shouldn't be allowed to just run naked.
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