Is It OK To Undress In Front Of Your Kids?

Let me start by saying that a series of studies have been conducted on this matter but conflicting results have been arrived at. However, I will state my opinion on this matter.

For many of us, it is a no-brainer. We believe that at age 2-3, the child is too young to understand most of what is going around them to even take notice of your nudity and make much of it. Most women assume that they had only stopped breastfeeding the child a year or two ago so they would not attach any importance to mummy’s chest.

However, many of us forget that the times have changed and children are much more exposed these days so they mature faster. Where you were when you were 6-7, is probably where your kid is at 4-5.

Furthermore, the way a child’s mind works is like a magnet. They capture what they see, even if they don’t understand it, and you never know which of these memories they will ponder on later having captured it. I have seen times when a child sees something from the previous day and says nothing, only to ask about it later on. This shows the child’s mind had been churning all along and when he couldn’t make sense of it, he had to ask. Some studies have shown that overexposure to parental nudity can overstimulate a child and lay the background for children with more liberal ideas about sex.

I am not saying if your kids (age 2-4) accidentally catch you in the nude, you should scold them. Instead, act normal so you don’t embed fear in them or make them feel anxious about nudity but do your best not to consciously prance around naked. It teaches them modesty and eliminates confusion that may arise or questions you may not be able to answer because they are too young.

Blogger: Why I want my sons to see me naked

A few months back, a post by blogger Rita Templeton about why she wants her four sons -- ages 2, 5, 6 and 9 -- to see her naked, was republished on The Huffington Post and went viral. Templeton said she wanted her sons to see what "real" women look like before they are bombarded with an idea in the media that doesn't match reality.

"Before they are exposed to boobs that are as round and firm as cantaloupes and pictures of taut, airbrushed, dimple-less butts, I'm exposing them to a different kind of female body. Mine" wrote Templeton, who blogs at Fighting Off Frumpy.

Her words led to an onslaught of hate mail, nasty tweets and accusations she's sexualizing her sons, she said. Buzz Bishop, a father of two boys in Calgary, wrote a blog post of his own in part as a response to all the outrage. He says he has been playing games called "naked baby" and "naked daddy" at bath time since his children were a little while at the same time he teaches his kids not to stare when they are in the open shower in the men's bathroom at their neighborhood pool.

"Rita's doing what works for (her). I'm doing what works for me. You're doing what works for you. And we're all just trying to teach our kids a little respect for each other, and themselves," said Bishop, who writes about parenting on his blog Dad Camp.

There doesn't seem to be much science to help guide us on whether it's better or worse for your child, or it makes no difference at all if they see you naked. I couldn't find many studies when I searched for them, and those I found had conflicting findings.

For instance, one study found no negative impact on adolescents who regularly saw their parents naked at ages 3 and 6, but another study found that parental nudity when kids were ages 6 to 11 resulted in more permissive attitudes about sex and increased sexual frequency.
For some parents, like Maryellen, a mom of two young girls on Long Island, who only wanted to use her first name, it's all about convenience.

"I'll be honest. Sometimes it's easier and faster just to pull them into the shower with me," she said. "But my girls are 4 and 6. A year from now I may not be doing it any longer. By then, they may be showering by themselves (dare to hope?)"

Do you think it's OK to be naked in front of your kids? Share your thoughts with Ellen