To Cover Up or Bare it All? You Decide

What a lovely article - I don't remember feeling modest around my parents, and since I had Jayden - poor Stephen's parents have helped out and copped the lot too!  I certainly think people should feel comfortable around their own family and friends - especially in their own home.  Kids do need to feel confident about their bodies - especially when so many change and shower rooms are shared when they go to school.  They also need to have a healthy understanding about when they should try to keep their private areas private too.

Everyone has different comfort levels, and it is a very personal thing - isn't it ridiculous that anyone should debate about poor old Britney.  Imagine having to cover up in front of your children - they will tell you to soon enough?!  (I wish you would though mum... JustJokes!).

Great article! I couldn't stop my 8yr old coming in if I tried!! Our toilet is in the bathroom so if I'm in the shower or bath & he has to go he just comes in. I'm not allowed to see him naked but he thinks it's ok to see me naked!!

Thanks.

I grew up in an overly modest house but have a DH who is perfectly at home in his skin, and so this has improved my own body image no end. As a result I can see how important it is to be comfortable being naked in front of your young kids.

Last night my 5 year old insisted on keeping her knickers on until the moment she got into the bath with her baby sister, so she is learning modesty, albeit a bit selective as I was there while she was in the bath and we dont use bubble bath due to eczema! We still bath together and shower together, but have explained to her that as she gets older her body will get increasingly private - now it's ok for us to see her nudy but she might not want her grandparents to see her nudy much longer and it's not ok to be nudy at school or with people not in the family any more (like in the fountains at the park!!!). We've also started talking about inappropriate touch when the moments occur.

Thanks for a great article! A good balance to the nonsence about this aspect of Britney's life!

DD always watched me shower, often had a bath/shower with me and sometimes still does.  She watched me go to the loo when she was younger and that's how toilet training began.  She learnt all the appropriate ways of doing things, and eventually by her 3rd birthday would not go in the loo with others, and would not use a loo that didn't have a door on it because part of what she learnt was that going to toilet was a "private" matter and we remain unseen.  She uses the Schoolies toilet at daycare, which is like a staff toilet but there's one in her Kindy room, as this is room accessible to children in the afternoons, and there's one in the Preschool room, as this is the room the Schoolies use also.  I think as far as being in the home, learning about how to look after bodies and learning about our anatomy is part of growing into a healthy adult.  I'm also a breastfeeder, so she's seen those a few times.  Considering where she came out of, she's used a couple of my "private" parts herself and really should not feel ashamed of anything she has, she should know to protect herself and that's part of teaching them about healthy touching and bad touching.  They need to know about their bodies, feel comfortable with their bodies, and feel safe in their bodies.

hey all i think this is an awesome article. my family have always been very comfortable with nudity although my step dad is a bit of a prude but the rest of us are open n unashamed of our bodies. my step dad would always tell me that i needed to cover up but thats just him. my mum walked round the house in the nudy a lot and so did my bro, sis and i. i still have no worries bout it which is lucky coz i'm a breast feeder and i am not worried bout gettin them out to feed my son. i still even have showers or spas with my mum and i'm 22. i think every1 should be comfortable with their bodies!

I think the whole nude thing gets blown waaay outta proportion by those in the media. Unfortunately due to the fact that there are nasty sorts out there who have a completely different mind set on what is healthy and right, we feel that we should adhere to what someone else thinks is best for our children.

But, personally I feel that while they are young it is fine, they become accustomed to the differences in male/female bodies and  ascertain a certain amount of respect that another deserves in relation to thier body. I have had showers/baths with Grub since day1. He sees me getting changed all the time, and OMG going to the toilet. But that is how they learn.

Geez what's next from these so called "experts"...........not allowing the baby to touch your breast when breastfeeding. I reckon these experts have never had kids of thier own and have no idea the bonding and development experiences aquired from human touch and visualisation.

Good article Jenlemen!!

Hi
We have never had a issue of covering up as the kids have always had a bath with me.
Even now as teenagers 15 and 14 I will still walk into the bathroom without them worrying and they will do the same to me and Darren.  Megan will hold the curtain or a towel in front of her when Darren walks in to grab Jalan if they are bathing together though
She calls him and he comes get Jalan so she can finish showering in peace or vice versa if Darren and Jalan are in there and I can't grab her. 
Neither of them have any qualms about me jumping into the shower with them if we are in a hurry
Some days my teenage daughter requests it as she still likes me washing her hair in there.  It is also a good time for her to talk to me without anyone interrupting. Sort of our one on one bonding time with no one else
When Darren and I first got together he always covered up around the kids but as they got older they would often catch him in the middle of the night in summer getting a drink from the fridge....needless to say he was naked thinking they were asleep.
I have taught them good touches bad touches but also that it is only skin and nothing to be ashamed of.
Also helps identifying anything changing unusually on their body. 
Nowadays both Darren and i are often naked and the kids walk in and it does not bother them as they dont see the nudity. 
We would not let them see anything sexual unless it was by accident like my son walking in at a inoportune moment but the sheet is always there as well.
Jalan is a nudist to the extreme lately she hates clothes...but this is normal they tell me for her age group.
It all depends on the focus you place on nudity and the human body as they are growing up.
In my younger years i spent some time on a community and a lot of people chose not to wear clothes and at first you would have a good look and/or be embarrased but as time went on you didn't see the nudity as it was just there
They always said you can tell the difference between a true nudist and a pervert  All will look at first it is human nature but a true nudist will not stare.
We learned to appreciate the human form as just that....a human form.....all the same bits just different sizes.  It is a shame when it is seen as something more by perverts and people who can't control their own thoughts and feelings.  I see a naked body i see a beautiful creation not a sexual object....but admitedly like my son say .... most people that like to be nudists...really shouldn't lol
I would become a nudist permanently but i burn really easy and don't like ironing (hehehehehe)
I love fat (skinny) dipping it is awesome
Luv Deb

at 15 i got into a shower as my mum was leaving it, and with my 2 kiddies 5 and 3 they get into the shower with my hubby and i and i even get into the bath with my daughter. I dont with my son as there isnt enough room. I personally dont care what people say about it either. At 18 my dad would come into the bathroom if i was in the shower or whatever if i had a phone call.

I can see it being a problem if the parents are dodgy but for the ones who would never even contemplate the harm of their child i cant see it being a problem.

i have 2 girls and they both bathe with me quite often.

recently caitlin has come up with some 'interesting' questions about the human form!!!

but i just answered them as honestly as i could, hopefully without causing any stress!

well she seemed satisfied that her questions had been answered anyway!!

i think that as you have pointed out it is important not to be too modest about showing your body, but to set strict boundries about touch, especially in the times that we live in!!

great article hun...

lol lisa xxxx. 

i agree with you. kids need to have a healthy attitude towards their body and they only get that from us. with all the controversy also on obesity in kids they need to be comfortable with themselves naked and clothed.

I have never had an issue with the kids seeing us 'in all our glory'. Going from the bathroom to the bedroom, getting up and going to the toilet in the morning etc. At no time have we intentionally had any intimate side of our relationship in public view of the kids - except of course if they have accidentally walked in in the middle of the night LOL. I think it gets rid of the inhibitions faced by some kids. We all have the stuff, just different shapes colours and sizes.
Leisa

My boys are older now so they relish their privacy as do I like mine
But certainly when they were younger I used to not make any issues about the body so they grew up without it being a taboo subject
Agree with you that they shouldn't be exposed to the wrong things though