Naked at the beach

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It would be great if you could contribute some of your experiences of the typical clothing worn by kids on your local beach.

It was a warm day here yesterday and the children are off school so we went down to the beach. As usual, my two girls stripped off and played in the water and in the sand naked. My 10-year-old did get embarrassed, however, when she saw her (male) teacher on the beach with his little girl (aged about 9, wearing just knickers). He saw her naked, and she ran back over to me to put her knickers on! It didn't take long though before her and the teacher's daughter were paddling in the sea together - minus their knickers of course!!

Most of the other kids on the beach yesterday were: 0-5yrs - naked; 5-8yrs - knickers (one or two naked); 8-11yrs - knickers (some tops and 3 or 4 naked); 12+ - swimsuit or knickers + vest.

Hello Coxy

I Live in Eastern England and was at the beach yesterday with my sister,13 year old niece and her 12 year old friend,both girls wore bikini bottoms and were topless on the beach. Others at the beach wore as follows: 0-5 years, mostly naked 5-12 years, mostly topless(knickers or bikini bottom) 12years+, one girl naked,some wearing bikini top and bottom,but mostly topless(bikini bottom or thong) What do your girls wear when they leave the beach?I've noticed on several occasions this summer,girls sometimes well into their teens remaining topless on the prom or even pier.Yesterday a couple of girls about 14,walked topless along the street opposite the beach.Perhaps i'm getting old but i'm not convincrd it was warm enough for that. In general i would say let the girls wear what they like,it's acceptable for women to be topless on most beaches anyway.

When we are leaving the beach, my girls usually go up the steps onto the promenade to get dried off and dressed. It never ceases to amaze me how they can stand on the busy promenade drying themselves off naked without a care in the world! They then usually get dressed to walk to the car. I say usually, because on one or two of the hotter days last summer they did walk to the car wearing only their knickers.

I agree with you about their being a lot of children recently in various states of undress on the prom. I have seen girls play on the beach in their knickers, then take them off because they were wet and walk along the promenade wearing just a t-shirt which barely covers their bum.

Were the girls you were with not shy at being topless on the beach? What about when it was time to go home - did they strip off their bikini bottoms in full view or did they try to hide themselves under towels (which is always funny to watch!).

Hello Coxy I've only seen very young girls naked on the prom,but if your girls are comfortable i don't think it's a problem.Do you think it's appropriate for older girls to be topless on the prom,pier or in the streets?I have even seen women do it occasionally.Is it something you might allow your girls to do in future years?

My niece and her friend were not shy about being topless,my niece used to go naked on the beach until she was 11 and has never worn a top,besides the majority of the other girls were topless,and a few of the women. The girls bikini bottoms wre dry,so they just kept them on and put their t-shirts on when we left the beach.

The oldest girl I have seen topless walking down the promenade was about 13. Her breasts were still fairly undeveloped so it wasn't really an issue.

I think I would be comfortable allowing my girls to do this - probably up to about 13. I'm not sure after that, but think I would leave it up to them. Their nudity isn't something I really have discussed with them - I used to strip them off on the beach when they were little and they have just carried on!

You said your niece went naked up to age 11 (my daughter will be 11 next week). What was it that stopped her doing it? Is she not allowed now (and would she if she was allowed?). Or did she get a few comments / funny looks and just decide the time had come to stop? Does she still strip off openly to change (if needed) or at home? I'm interested as I need to know what boundaries to set for my girls. They both came in and bounced on my bed naked this morning, so modesty seems a long way off yet!!