family naturism

History of family naturism

Family naturism was present in naturist groups from the very beginning. Naturism in Europe was seen as a respite for city families to get away from the stresses and impact of industrialized cities. It was considered a family affair just other types of family recreational activity. Most naturist venues historically make provisions for the presence and participation of children. ¹

Nudity is our natural state. Young children readily attest this by their complete absence of shame.
Photo by KitLawrence . American Nudist Leader, Nov. 1955.

Family naturism in practice

Naturist families continue to exist today. ² There are challenges and rewards including legal to the practice of naturism in a family. Research suggest that non sexual social nudity is a positive factor in body acceptance and a sense of well being. ³ Naturist families may still find it increasingly difficult to practice social naturism or be clothes-free together.

Naturist families are often met with questions and concerns from the general public about the participation of children in naturism. ⁴ The non naturist society raises safety concerns due to potential exposure to sexual behavior.⁵ Naturist events have seen protest as a result of these concerns. The protests by non naturists often create legal issues for naturist families.

Promoting family naturism is equally challenging. ⁶ Camping at a naturist venue may be the best remaining family naturist activity. ⁷Despite being equipped with encouraging messages from pediatric doctors, psychologists and science naturist families often struggle against current social norms to promote family naturism as healthy and beneficial. ⁸

Family naturism research

Despite being equipped with encouraging messages from pediatric doctors, psychologists and science naturist families often struggle against current social norms to promote family naturism as healthy and beneficial. L. Castler researched the sociopsychological aspects of living in a nudist environment and wrote them up for the Journal of Social Psychology. He made two observations that are pertinent here. First, in general he stated,

“A high moral tone…seems to pervade most nudist camps.” And, in addressing attitudes in nudist youth, he wrote, “. . . For the younger children, nudism chiefly meant nude swimming, having fun without getting one’s clothes dirty, being with friends, etc. For the older children, nudism seemed also to have a more serious meaning. These adolescent boys and girls seemed unusually alert and aware of the impact nudism had on their lives.. ” ⁹

Furthermore, the impression was inescapable that these children, taken as a group, were extraordinarily well-adjusted, happy, and thoughtful” ¹⁰

Other scientists and medical professionals also report positive aspects of familial social nudity.

“A child who has never been allowed to see his parents and brothers and sisters naked sees nudity as something shocking.

–Dr. Helga Fleishhauer Hardt, SHOW ME (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1975)

“Being natural and matter-of-fact about nudity prevents your children from developing an attitude of shame or disgust about the human body. If parents are very secretive about their bodies and go to great lengths to prevent their children from ever seeing a buttock or breast, children will wonder what is so unusual, and even alarming, about human nudity.”–Dr. Lee Salk, Psychiatrist (from an article in McCall’s Magazine, June, 1976)

“Ideally, parents will unostentatiously allow their children to become acquainted, from infancy on, with the nude appearance of family members, juvenile and adult, in the normal course of dressing, undressing, and bathing.” — Margaret Mead ¹¹

Safety in Family naturism

Safety concerns generated by the presence of child sexual abusers online and news reports in mainstream society serves as a deterrent for many families against sharing family naturist experiences. Many people who aren’t used to the naturist life won’t understand nor condone the sight of naked people and certainly not that of naked children. The fear of pictures being taken and spread over the Internet is very present. Some naturist venues prohibit cameras and any photographic or video recording devices in community areas to protect children.

Psychologists and psychiatrists in the main believe there are positive ways for naturist families to experience safe family nudity.