Naked on the Beach

AWH so cute! :)

I wouldn't worry, personally, about having to explain a naked boy to my daughters (even if I didn't have sons), because by the time they were talking they knew the difference between girls and boys (or rather, between mommy and daddy! lol). But that's just me. Some people might feel differently.

At 3 1/2 I think it's just adorable. There's nothing as adorable in this world as a baby bum! Mine (we live in a very secluded place) have been known to run around naked (or "nekkid" as they say) until they're 5 or 6, in the really hot weather. Whatever. Saves me the laundry. ;)

I think too old, too public, if it was just family not a big deal. I do not want to see anyone's naked but but my own son's naked but personaly.

Nope. I think it's sweet & refreshing. America is way too sexualized nowadays... back when I was a kid, you'd think nothing of a naked kid in the ocean or river.

I don't think so.

And if other kids haven't seen a "boy" yet, it's about time that they do... We've gotten so uptight about nudity. I know when I was a child, we didn't own swimsuits. The four of us kids just wore cutoff jeans, and that's it, to swim in the lake until I was about five.

No, not a family. America is too sexualized about that stuff but realistically it's probably for the best with all the self-entitled rapists and pedos... they have them everywhere in the world.

If they were laughing they probably thought it was cute.

I agree with V M, I wouldn't want to explain that to my toddler girl. It's not fair that I have to be put on the spot. And that is my belief, she doesn't have a dad or brother so no, she doesn't know the difference except the shirt thing b/c the neighbor boys have their shirts off and she won't. So it's not fair to HAVE to teach her when I don't feel she's ready or will understand in a positive way, as in not wanting to investigate every child's pants out of curiousity.

I agree with Laura U. I'm not trying to punish my child by keeping clothes on her outside, but I don't want some perv takin pics of my child and jacking off to them, disgusting. I don't care about him/her and their God, I am not going to enable that.

lol 8kidsdad, it shouldn't be either extreme. You shouldn't lock your kids up and you shouldn't have em run around naked. both extremes. Just have a median of putting on a swimsuit and keeping an eye out for weirdos. Sheesh lol.

My concern would be sun protection. Personally, if there are other children of various ages around then probably no, more out of respect for them. I would hate to have to have a discussion right there with my 7 yo daughter.

I would say no - AND they were probably laughing like, Hey look that those little buns over there in the water, so cute :-)
At least thats how I would react to a baby bum at the beach !!!

I would have laughed too, but out of humor. It would have been cute to see.

I am going to say yes too old.. when in public. In your own back yard I would say no. Too many people with too many judgements.

Good luck!

Are you sure they weren't laughing because they thought it was adorable? They probably thought he was cute and laughed because it's great to see kids so uninhibited.
I used to nanny for a family and one of the little girls was ALWAYS stripping down. We were out one day and she saw a fountain and before I could blink, she had her clothes off and was set to jump in! It was hilarious and several people thought it was adorable.

Don't worry about it!

not at all too old. and unsanitary? please! the same crud comes right through the swim trunks - it not "dirtier" to be naked in water. at least they were laughing and not upset about it. some of the answers you got seem totally out of line. and the whole pervert thing - please don't internalize that and think you brought on negative energy to your kid. you can't take responsibility for - nor control - others' perverted thoughts. he's an innocent little boy - and you were letting him be free. don't worry about it, and as far as i'm concerned there was absolutely nothing wrong with it.

No -they were laughing because he was cute!

i have a 4 yo (almost 5) and he's quite "free" with his stuff :). but he does know not to take off his clothes while out and about. when we are at the beach and i change his clothes before we leave, i make sure i put something around him, because not everyone has a brother and knows what things look like, if you know what i mean.

I think he's still young enough, especially out at a river. Cute!

no way!
hes not too old until he realizes modesty (although, if that doesnt happen you might want to talk to him, lol)

No problemo here. Once my eldest hit 'big school' I told him he had to keep his gear on in public. :). My kids are always frolicking in the nicky noo nah!

Heavens no, and I might have asked the family to share what was so funny, so I could join in the laughter. They may have just been laughing at how cute he was; not necessarily anything harmful.

I think it's normal for adults to be self-concious about their naked bodies, but kids have no clue about the societal expectations. I agree about safety, but if we become too paranoid, where does it stop? We need to allow our kids a carefree childhood while we silently keep our watch and make sure they understand dangers they could face. 3 1/2 is too young to understand about sexual predators, etc.....

And regarding "explaining to my toddler girl"... I have a 4.5yo son and a 19mo daughter, and they both understand the differences between them AS WELL AS the proper terms for their genitalia. *roll eyes*

Aw, no worries, they probably thought it was cute. Our neighbors have a 3 year old who occasionally pulls his diaper off with lightening speed and takes off running around the yard before he pees in the garden. We laugh, but only because that's what we have to look forward too. :)

I have a very tall 3.5 kiddo - I think I would encourage a swimsuit or even undies-only unless it's just your family in a private area.

I suppose I'd be more worry about pervs looking at my sweetie pie. It's ok for our home or even in the backyard with some privacy but the "Who Who" is for certain eyes only. lol
C.

Old enough to be taught where nakedness is appropriate and where it is not. And at a public beach is definitely in the where it is not category.

No not too old... I'm pretty easy on nudity in normal/natural settings. Sexualizing the body - even WITH clothing I'm not so tolerant about when it's in public and children and family are around... but nudity is ok if they are showering, playing in the water, changing, etc.

Yes I do. Well I come from a fairly conservative family with that type of stuff. Plus someone might see it as neglect and report you to DFS. Plus it doesnt seem to sanitary.

I would not make a big deal about it. Its done. Gone on from here.

I'm all for it, in my heart, but totally against it in my head.

So many pervs around- have you looked at Megan's Law?
http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/

My two sons run around naked in the sprinklers in our backyard, but not the front. It is just the first lesson in where it's safe to bare (or be bare ;).

Yes, too old for in public. In your own backyard is fine, but not in public areas.

I think it's cute and no problem at all. I agree 100% with Hazel W who wrote that if someone is going to be a perv it is between them and their god. No my problem, not my kids'. And I agree with Skidsdad, the wrong people are being asked not to be free if it is the kids that must be told to wear clothes in case a pedofile is lurking.