Tosin Ajayi speaks with some youths about whether it is proper for parents to be naked in the presence of their children.
Ayodele Adesina
It can affect cultural and family values
No! It is not proper because parents being naked around their children can evoke discomfort or confusion, conflicting with cultural or family values that prioritise privacy and modesty. Children might feel uncertain about social norms or appropriate behaviour, potentially impacting their understanding of boundaries and personal space. Maintaining privacy around nudity could be considered more appropriate, as it fosters respect for personal space and establishes clear boundaries within the family dynamic and broader society. Encouraging modesty might help children develop a sense of privacy and respect for others’ bodies.
It can traumatize the child
To begin with, I do not believe it is proper at all because of the psychological trauma it might cause the child growing up. In addition, I honestly feel it is wrong, and this is so because children mostly learn from the things they see rather than what they are told and so, this might end up becoming something the children believe to be normal and okay to do in the presence of just anybody. In conclusion, I feel that parents who undress or get naked in the presence of their children might think that it does not matter because they are kids but in the long run, it would lead to disrespect to the adults and intrusion of privacy of both the parents and children, a boundary that was supposed to have been a norm, thereby causing a divide in the home.
I will ruin a child in some way
When kids are very young, the consensus seems to be yes, since babies and toddlers are generally oblivious to nudity and what it means to a person, but as they tend to get older and especially when you are talking about a child of the opposite sex, the answer is not quite so. Nudity between parents and children is fine as long as both are fully comfortable, but for me, it is not appropriate regardless of age, though I know it can happen sometimes but not regularly. For a child to see their parents’ naked bodies in a desexualised way can also help them understand that women are more than just objects and that their bodies are not inherently shameful. Kids are super curious, if they want to see what a body part looks like, they can Google it. They should have resources to learn about the safe body. So sometimes, it’s safe and better in some ways. The fear is that exposing a child to nudity will ruin them in some way, or at least embarrass them, but these concerns are unfounded and not true. Family and parent nudity gives children an opportunity to talk about boundaries, bodies, and safety, children who see their parents’ naked bodies are safer from sexual abuse.
I do not subscribe to it
The idea of parents being naked around their kids varies based on our cultural beliefs and religious practices. As a guy, I see it’s more about what each family feels comfortable with. Some families see it as okay, like a natural thing, to be naked around one another. It’s about openness and accepting our bodies. But for others, it’s about privacy and modesty, so they prefer everyone being covered up, teaching boundaries, and respecting cultural norms. It’s important to balance this by considering how old the kids are, what the family believes in, and what everyone feels comfortable with. Parents need to talk to their kids about feeling good about their bodies and respecting others’ privacy too. The idea of parents being naked around their kids depends on what the family thinks is right, based on their values and comfort levels. It’s about creating a healthy understanding of our bodies while respecting everyone’s feelings and beliefs. My comments above are based on a general perception. However, personally, I don’t subscribe to that ideology and will not encourage being naked in the presence of my kids. However, I will teach them the best way to be knowledgeable about their bodies and respect people as well as our religious and cultural perceptions of such.
I would prefer avoiding nudity around my kids
Nudity in front of children is subjective and varies with culture, religion, and age. A three-year-old perceives their parents’ nudity differently than a teenager would. Parents should be aware that nudity can spark curiosity in kids, requiring open communication and education about privacy and exposing body parts. I would prefer avoiding nudity around my kids to prevent discomfort or misconceptions. There is concern that children might become too comfortable with nudity, especially when it involves individuals they shouldn’t see. So, parents must teach their children about nudity in general. Therefore, I advocate for parents to maintain modesty and keep their clothes on around their kids.
Abiola Edun
There should be privacy in every home
I think it is very bad for children to see their parents naked. There should be privacy in every home. Besides, when the kids are growing up, they start having emotional feelings and anything physical can actually affect their emotions so it is not good for parents to be naked in the presence of their children. And we also have the issue of the internet and what they get access to watch or what they read can lead to the children developing negative ideas. So, it is better not to indulge them in things like that. Every parent should stay away when naked, know what to wear around the house, know how to set boundaries for their privacy and know how to keep themselves clothed around the children.
Bridget Umujakporue
It is inappropriate
I do not think it is appropriate for a parent to be completely naked before their children. There is a limit to how much of their bodies they expose to their children at certain ages of their lives while growing up. They have to teach them decency when it comes to dressing appropriately. The level or extent of nudity a parent chooses to expose to their children depends on how they have raised them and also how their relationship is and the kind of person the child turned out to be. The child might be a shy person irrespective of how free-spirited the parents might have raised them to be; this can cause them to feel uncomfortable in such a situation. It depends on the family and the type of upbringing the child had while growing up.
Mary Omuvi
It exposes them to immoral thoughts
I would say no, and this is because as the child keeps growing and turning into a teenager or a young adult if parents keep undressing in their presence, the child will feel it is okay to undress anywhere or in the presence of certain persons. For example, I have a family member whose little sister has been seeing their mother unclothed regularly and one day when their dad came back from work, the girl said to him, in the presence of everybody, “This thing is in our mummy’s private part,” while pointing at her father’s beards. So, it gets to a certain stage that parents need to teach their children how to be private with their bodies. Children can think of improper things when they keep seeing their parents naked and it can lead to bad ideas.
Abigail Samuel
It won’t protect the child’s innocence
In my opinion, it depends on the age. At ages one to six years, there is nothing to be worried about because their (the child’s) mind has not formed an idea about it especially if they are not exposed to any sexual content. From the age of seven, it is the parent’s duty to try and be modest in the presence of their children. I grew up with a father who was always in his boxers when he was at home and it never bothered me as a child, My mum was and is still conservative about being naked in the presence of her kids and it was normal in our house and none of us (I and my siblings) thought of it as weird. But intimately, the innocence of children is supposed to be protected and it’s the responsibility of the parents to do that.
Philomina Patrick
There should be boundaries for privacy and respect
From my perspective as a mother, I find it inappropriate for parents to be consistently naked in the presence of their children. Establishing boundaries is vital for fostering a healthy sense of privacy and respect within the family. While open communication about nudity and body parts is very crucial to the child’s upbringing and letting a child know that regularly exposing oneself may blur the lines of appropriateness and decency. As parents, it is crucial to model behaviours that align with good morals and societal expectations, ensuring our children grow up with a balanced understanding of modesty, integrity, and dignity. Maintaining a level of modesty highly contributes to a child’s comfort and helps instill values of personal space and privacy. Striking this balance promotes a positive environment for a child’s emotional well-being and encourages the development of healthy attitudes toward their bodies and others.
