‘Hi Ella’, avatar Nancy IMs me. ‘As a sort of naturist mother, I’m wondering how you brought up the topic of a naturist holiday with your children? I’m sort of naturist in that my husband and I enjoyed nude holidays when we were first married. Children came along, and we’ve not had any family holidays abroad, or naturist, in recent years. I’m happy to say we’re now in a financial position to be able to afford to take five of us off on holiday and and my husband and I have discussed a naturist vacation, but I’m not sure how we should bring up the topic. Our kids are 11, 8 and 6’.

You don’t say, Nancy, how you approach the topic of nudity in the home. My children were used to seeing us in the bath or shower, or wandering around naked, before they could walk, so the subject of nudity never bothered them. They understood, from an early age, that we could fling off our clothes on a hot day and enjoy the garden as well. As they’ve got older, they still enjoy that sense of freedom and find nudity totally unremarkable.

Where are you planning to go? If the destination has a website, gather them around and show them your idea. Discuss the whole concept of not needing swimming costumes.

If you have some sense of nude freedom in the home, I suspect you’ve got children who will simply accept nudity can also be enjoyed outdoors. Kids simply love the sense of freedom and your younger ones will embrace the idea. Even if you’ve not brought them up with a sense of naked freedom at home they’ll accept the idea -although if you and your husband are going naked in front of them for the first time on holiday then I’d expect there’ll be some giggling when Mummy and Daddy go naked for the first time in front of them. Be prepared for comments like ‘I can see Daddy’s willy’ or ‘I can see Mummy’s boobies’. 🙂

An hour later they’ll have forgotten all about your and their nakedness.

I would add that, despite my children being aware of their parents’ naked forms all of their lives, my oldest boy did ask questions about breasts and pubic hair when he was old enough to articulate the issue. He was curious about why grown ups had those things, and equally as to why some grown ups didn’t have pubic hair. Ditto the issue of body piercings. I explained it all truthfully. Children will accept facts, and are less impressed by a load of old waffle.

If they grow up with it, being naked is natural as far as children are concerned.

I suspect it’s harder for children to get their heads around the idea of parental nudity the older they are. As they move into puberty there’s likely to be a feeling from them that, as a 14/15/16 year old, their parents are simply trying to embarrass them. Most teenagers find their parents embarrassing, naked or clothed.

They learn their behaviour, all of it, from you!

So if they grow up in a naturist environment from birth, the nudity is easily accepted.

You’ll probably find your younger two children are quite content in going nude. You’ll know your 11 year old better than me, but there may just be a little resistance to them going nude. Never impose it on them. If they want to wear swimsuits, fine. Let them find their own comfort levels in their own time. If they never strip, but accept you do, let it be like that.

I’d be thrilled if you report back having broached the subject and let us know how you got on.

Ella