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Naked Children … at School?
A New York Times piece on kids running around naked provoked discussion this week about whether and when it’s appropriate. The consensus seemed to be that anything goes in the privacy of the child’s home. Many said hosts should defer to guests’ comfort (if Grandma’s uncomfortable, then cover up those toddlers!). Some mourned the loss of the once uncontroversial state of undress.
But I wonder where the pro-nekkid people draw the line. What would they think, for example, of my daughter’s preschool, where the unofficial mantra could be summarized: if naked feels good, do it.
Everyone from the toddlers to the five-year-olds waiting to go to Kindergarten, nude and semi-nude kids are a common sight. Parents are warned in the mandatory pre-enrollment orientation that this can and does happen and that the school doesn’t discourage it. If parents are not OK with their little exhibitionists, the teachers will direct the child into some kind of body cover. Mostly, from what I can tell, anything goes.
I’ll also mention, this being Southern California, much of the school’s play areas, which are on a university’s campus, are outdoors. It’s fenced in but not totally out of view. Passers-by can see the kids in all their unfettered freedom.
My daughter isn’t big on stripping down when she’s not at home, and she thinks kids running around school in underwear is an odd choice. I’m so used to seeing all that skin that if I had any hang-ups with such a sight, I’m well over it.
I’ve even stopped defending the policy, which is locally kind of famous, and just shrug at the gasps. I know several older kids who graduated from this preschool and, rest assured, they keep their pants on in Kindergarten without even being asked.
Anyway, I know what you’re thinking: that’s SoCal for ya! And it’s true, I’m having a hard time picturing this scene anywhere else I’ve lived – if anything, the weather would prohibit it.
But maybe I’m wrong. Does your preschooler go naked at school? Would you be comfortable at a school where that is allowed?
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15 Comments
[...] Naked Kids … at School? [...]
Dying Mom Trains Dad to Braid Hair, Turn on Dishwasher | Strollerderby commented on Jul 21 09 at 11:01 amShannon LC Cate commented on Jul 18 09 at 12:46 pmWhen I taught 11 preschoolers by myself (only teacher in the room) and had to get them in and out of swimsuits, it happened inadvertently. I’d have a dozen wet, naked babes running crazy in my room. But what could I do? They’d come in from swimming, strip off their suits and fly around while I got them redressed one-by-one. At 2 and 3 years old I didn’t figure it was a big deal. If parent cared they never said anything.
meghan commented on Jul 18 09 at 2:17 pmMy kid isn’t in preschool yet, but I remember my own preschool days, in ’81 or ’82, and the kids ran around naked if they wanted. In upstate NY no less. I don’t remember if I was naked or not, but odds are I wore my Wonder Woman Underoos proudly for all to see. Some of the kids from preschool were in my elementary school later on and none of us had a problem keeping our clothes on. Some children enjoy being naked–it’s part of being a kid.
skinnybabe commented on Jul 20 09 at 3:40 amThose kids are so cute, I have a baby daughter but shes still less than a year old, I cant wait for her to grow up bif and learn more things Kid stuff.. hehe
St. Anne commented on Jul 26 09 at 10:11 amI can tell you, I’ve taught Kindergarten for more than 20 years, and every time we do the pool, a body painting activity, or a body exploratory day, the kids never have a problem with being naked at school. Kids are kids! They are not little adults! Therefore, if the breeze on their “boo-boo” feels good, in a controlled environment, then let them do it. No harm done! If I remember correctly, weren’t we all bore that way…!? God Bless. (Sister-Anne)
MH commented on Jul 27 09 at 6:35 amIf God wanted us to run around without clothes, we’d have been born naked…
MH commented on Jul 27 09 at 10:37 amIt can’t all be bad! Here are some kids body painting each other at a Kindergarten in Japan: http://saintannie.net/files/salc_albums/outside_play2.html
edamommy commented on Aug 07 09 at 9:58 pmI think it’s healthy for kids to be naked around each other – I think they will gain a better acceptance of different body types and sizes and shapes if it’s not a big deal. Kids love being naked! Let them. My 3-year-old daughter is often naked at home, at the beach and at family houses (granny, auntie, etc.). I don’t think it has ever occurred to her to feel ashamed about it. Her father and I are often naked at home while in and out of the shower, etc. She accepts it as the ways things are. Until SHE feels uncomfortable about it, I think it’s normal and healthy. I wish her preschool were more accepting of nudity.
MH commented on Aug 10 09 at 10:43 pmIt is healthy and makes kids more confident. In addition, it reduces the child’s interest in the opposite sex!
My 4 kids, two boy and two girls, (8, 6, 4, & 2) all run around in their birthday suits, at home, at the pool, and at the beach! They don’t care who comes to visit or who rings the doorbell. And I’ll tell you, we haven’t lost any friends over this, either. In addition, we have had friends with kids come over to visit us and play at our pool, and after about 5 minutes, are running around the house or playing outside at the pool with our kids as naked as J-birds, even though they brought swimsuits… We haven’t had any problems with our neighbors, either… Cheers!
madison pilarek commented on Aug 13 09 at 2:17 pmI HAVE A THREE-YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL THAT GOES TO A PRAIVATE NUDIST PRESCHOOL. AND SHE FEELS VERY COMFORTABLE GOING TO SCHOOL NAKED FROM HEAD TO TOE.AND AS LONG AS SHE FEELS COMFORTABLE BEING NAKED IN SCHOOL AND SHE FEELS COMFORTABLE BEING NAKED IN FRONT OF OTHER CHILDERN AND SHES HAVING FUN IN SCHOOL AND SHES 100% SAFE IN SCHOOL THEN IAM OK WITH HER GOING TO SCHOOL NAKED.
MH commented on Aug 16 09 at 12:01 pmWow! Where is that private school located? I’d like to send my 2 younger kids there…??
madison pilarek commented on Aug 20 09 at 9:20 ami cant tell you where her pre school is on this web page. but if you e mail at pilarek1@gmail. com ill be then happy to talk to you more a bout my little girls pre school
Lucky commented on Sep 09 09 at 11:13 amMan, I never got to be naked in preschool. Maybe if I did I wouldn’t have had to work through so many hang ups. Eh, maybe my kids will have better luck!
Ben Murphy commented on Nov 16 09 at 2:34 pmPersonallu, i feel nudity shuld be legal. Is there really anything wrong with seeing someone else nude? I see laws against public nudity as forcing a belief on other; and today don’t we strive for the right to freedom! Right to say as we please (without offending) and do as we please! (Without causing harm to others.) Though we cannot be blamed, i’ts in our nature as a social species to follow a general belief, frightend to do as we see fit, we have been taught by our mother and fathers that nudity is wrong as they have by their mother and father, which has been the way for hundreds and thousands of years, we are indoctrinated to belive that nudity isnt “modest”… what is modest but, if had power i could say oranges are unmodest (I wouldn’t :P.) Call me a crackpot if you will, but that only futhers my point. Fight for what you belive in!
Kevin Moore commented on Jan 04 12 at 10:04 amI’m amazed to see so many positive comments on this subject, and I applaud you all. I cringed inwardly as I prepared to read the comments, but quickly became pleasantly surprised.
I agree whileheartedly with the general consensus- children are not smaller versions of adults, and there is no need whatsoever to instill them with hang-ups over their bodies. Being naked around other children is natural and normal, and completely devoid of the sexuality most adults can’t get their minds past.
I am encourage to see so many education professional and child-care workers who not only indulge childrens’ natural tendency to be naked and have fun, but encourage it.
I have only one question for the lot of you- where were you when I was a kid…?!?
:)
God Bless you all.
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