Naked as a Jay Bird!

[gk90]

What does a child predator have to do with it? I know most of my neices and nephews hated having their clothes on and would do that a lot at home. I think they tried when they were out a few times.

I think it's sad that parents now are conditioned to think there is a predator at every corner. I would have thought that would have been a kid being a kid and chuckle at it. It's sad that we have now sexualized children.

Just keep an eye on the kid.. isn't that the normal thing to do regardless????

In an ideal world a child predator would have nothing to do with it...but unfortunately we live in a world where there are child predators, maybe not on every corner but certainly in places where our children go. Think of Megan Kanka, the killer was her neighbor and I'll never forget that in his confession he said that he was aroused by seeing her in shorts damn sicko...

It's not parents who have sexualized children, it's an unfortunate reality that parents have to deal with. I can't tell you how choked up and furious I feel to think that some pervert is looking at my kids in a sexual way, and I can't imagine how it feels to parents like Megan's, or the parents of Polly Klaas or Elizabeth Smart.

Letting kids free to be kids would be wonderful and if we can find safe places for that it's great. I wish WDW were one of those places but unfortunately it's not. There was a story in May about a predator at the Swan luring kids into the bushes.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1446761

I live in a suburb of 18000 people and there are 4 registerd sex offenders on the state registry...of course that's not counting the ones who haven't been caught, and these are in "nice" neighborhoods too, white picket fences, the whole bit. And every year we get at least 2 letters from our school district warning us that a stranger in a black/silver/whatever car was trying to lure kids into the car.
Here are some links to studies on the prevalence of child abuse.
http://www-ec.njit.edu/~newrev/v2s3/elli/abuse_assault.htm

Being the parent of a 4 year old who has "natural" tendencies, I don't get offended by it, but it has been an interesting process to teach her modesty. That said, it is a sad fact that our society contains many sexual predators and parents do have to be watchful at all times. As for some people being offended by it, that's largely culture and conditioning. Many cultures accept children being nude until they are mid-elementary school age, so a 4 year old is not that big of a deal. In this country, nudity has been sexualized to the point of the ridiculous where small children are speculated about and parents of same are considered abusive or neglectful and even nursing women who 'are' completely covered are made to feel self-conscious simply because people "know" that she is nursing even under the blanket (not talking about someone baring it all which isn't necessary). Children that age don't have the hangups that we as adults do, nor do they have the necessary caution that we have learned out of necessity. Off my soap box, now. Sad to say, this is our culture.

Well said...I agree

 

[tony609]

I saw a grown man pee up against a wall at MGM studios once. I said out loud to my friend. "Its a shame people can't walk 30 steps to a bathroom".

 

[Tam1067]

As others have noted, naked children in public are very common in other cultures, especially in Europe. A few years ago, we were at a fountain in Chicago. Lots of American kids were running through barefoot and getting their clothes wet. There were two sisters completely naked--and they were European.

I lived in France for a time during college, and one of the things I learned was to adapt to my host country's customs even if I might not understand or agree with them. It's too bad when visitors to the U.S. do not attempt to adapt their behaviors to our norms. What's OK in France/Germany/Italy/Sweden or wherever is not necessarily OK here, and I feel for the CMs who have to deal with guests who either don't care or don't understand that.

 

[MRNsMommy]

What does a child predator have to do with it? I know most of my neices and nephews hated having their clothes on and would do that a lot at home. I think they tried when they were out a few times.

I think it's sad that parents now are conditioned to think there is a predator at every corner. I would have thought that would have been a kid being a kid and chuckle at it. It's sad that we have now sexualized children.

Just keep an eye on the kid.. isn't that the normal thing to do regardless????

Yes, of course, we should always have a watchful eye on our children, but, unfortunately, as the PP above me said, child predators ARE a factor! In fact, for me, a child predator has everything to do w/ why I wouldn't let my DD2 run around naked in front of strangers in public. It has nothing to do w/ me feeling uncomfortable about her nakedness...little children running around playing naked in the water doesn't offend me! BUT child predators do exist...and, yes, they can even be at WDW! Just do a search on http://www.familywatchdog.us to see just how prevelant predators are! My small town came up w/ 14, and we're just right outside the state capitol where it came up w/ 124 offenders. In fact, as I was going through the list, one of them was a "nice" guy I knew from high school...and another was a friend of DH who was busted in a child pornography internet ring, which just goes to show that you never really know the type of person it can be! And, of course, these are just the offenders who've been reported and caught...lets not forget the ones who are, unfortunately, good at what they do!

 

[allyphoe]

IMHO, a prepubescent girl can go topless anywhere a prepubescent boy can. I also find bikini tops on preschoolers to be inappropriate, for exactly the same reason - it presents those kids in a sexual way.

I personally would not let my kid run naked in a public fountain, regardless of where it was, although I'd let her play in her underwear if she wanted, and I'd change her out of wet clothes and into dry ones in a more-secluded public area. I wouldn't have any issue with her playing with someone else's naked kid - her preschool does water activities every day in the summer, and the kids all strip down and redress in front of each other.

 

[allyphoe]

Think of Megan Kanka, the killer was her neighbor and I'll never forget that in his confession he said that he was aroused by seeing her in shorts damn sicko...

By that logic, though, kids shouldn't go to WDW in shorts. A sicko who gets off on kids is not something you can control by changing the way you dress your kids.

 

[vancesmom]

I totally understand where everyone is coming from. As the mother of a 4 year old boy, I have no problem with him running around like that at home or peeing on a tree in the woods. But I would never let him do any of that in public. When it comes down to it - It's about trying to be respectful of others. On the flip side - I find it truly very sad that the innocence of childhood seems to be taken away from kids so young now. Not just from predators but from society in general wanting them to grow up way to quickly.

 

[vancesmom]

IMHO, a prepubescent girl can go topless anywhere a prepubescent boy can. I also find bikini tops on preschoolers to be inappropriate, for exactly the same reason - it presents those kids in a sexual way.

I personally would not let my kid run naked in a public fountain, regardless of where it was, although I'd let her play in her underwear if she wanted, and I'd change her out of wet clothes and into dry ones in a more-secluded public area. I wouldn't have any issue with her playing with someone else's naked kid - her preschool does water activities every day in the summer, and the kids all strip down and redress in front of each other.

I hear you!

 

[gk90]

By that logic, though, kids shouldn't go to WDW in shorts. A sicko who gets off on kids is not something you can control by changing the way you dress your kids.

Who says there's any logic to the way that sickos think?

My kids wear shorts--I just hate to think that predators could be looking at them the way that poor little Megan Kanka's killer was looking at her.

 

[Alesia]

Who says there's any logic to the way that sickos think?

My kids wear shorts--I just hate to think that predators could be looking at them the way that poor little Megan Kanka's killer was looking at her.

It's sick to think that predators may be looking at our kids, but we can't think about it too much, or else we will end up putting them in burkas. The best way to protect our children is to supervise them. We can't control how predators think, but we can control their access to our kids.

 

[AllisonG]

It's sick to think that predators may be looking at our kids, but we can't think about it too much, or else we will end up putting them in burkas. The best way to protect our children is to supervise them. We can't control how predators think, but we can control their access to our kids.

Nicely worded, thank you.

 

[Lisa Hale]

It's sick to think that predators may be looking at our kids, but we can't think about it too much, or else we will end up putting them in burkas. The best way to protect our children is to supervise them. We can't control how predators think, but we can control their access to our kids.

Totally agree! WE, as parents, have to be vigilant at all times - sad, but true!

 

[virginiamama]

My DH's mom calls him Jay Bird for just this reason! He didn't like to wear clothes too much growing up! Too bad the CMs have to get involved in these awkward situations. I've considered bringing bathing suits or extra clothes in case DSs want to get very wet, but NEVER considered letting them go nekkid!

 

[Mme. Leota]

It's sick to think that predators may be looking at our kids, but we can't think about it too much, or else we will end up putting them in burkas. The best way to protect our children is to supervise them. We can't control how predators think, but we can control their access to our kids.

Thank you. . . I needed that. Especially after readiing yesterday's new story about the pedophile chat room that was busted. Even the story is so bad I won't post a link. It makes me cry to think what sick people are out there. But you are right. . .if we dwell too much, we would never leave the house.

 

[LilGMom]

I understand that in other cultures nudity is not seen the same way it is over here in the States but I feel that when you are in another country that you try to adopt what is the "norm".

I can completely understand not wanting your child to run around in the water and get soaking wet in their clothes. In this instance I would have let my son run around in either his underwear only or in his shorts. With just the underwear on he would have gone commando the rest of the day and if his shorts were wet he would have either had to deal with the wet shorts (price to pay for playing in the water) or we would have purchased some dry shorts (isn't like he wouldn't use them again, kwim). My toddler would have run around in his diaper. I'm not going to have my children run around naked in a public setting and the only time they will ever urinate in someplace other than a restroom will be if we are on interstate and are in between rest stops with the nearest one being over 30 miles from us.

 

[Jrabbit910]

I have never experienced something like this, not even in our local parks. Like you said there are so many "bad" people out there that shouldnt need to see something like this. IMO: they should have had something on him, even if it was a little bathing suit.

 

[MinnieTink]

Cultural differences do make policing this sort of thing very difficult. My family was sitting on the little side street by the Main St bakery enjoying our breakfast when we saw an older woman (grandmother maybe) helping two little girls to pee on the curb. One of squatting and doing it herself, the other the woman was holding up to help her go without getting any on herself. When my dad approached them to explain where the bathrooms were (and I will say he was only slightly belligerant ) the woman kept saying "she's just little, she's just little". She wasn't at all ashamed of what she was doing and truly thought it was ok. Very odd!

That is gross gross gross!!!!!

 

[mkycrzy1971]

What does a child predator have to do with it? I know most of my neices and nephews hated having their clothes on and would do that a lot at home. I think they tried when they were out a few times.

I think it's sad that parents now are conditioned to think there is a predator at every corner. I would have thought that would have been a kid being a id and chuckle at it. It's sad that we have now sexualized children.

Just keep an eye on the kid.. isn't that the normal thing to do regardless????

First...I have no problem with kids running around naked...butttt....to be on the safe side, it should not be in a public place (My son potty trains in our back yard!!) HOWEVER<....It has everything to do with child predators!! As a parent of 3 children (ages 2-15 years) I am well aware of what these sickos think (ever watch "To catch a predator" on Dateline??)...who knows who might be taking a picture of your naked child (even though their nakedness was ment to be very innocent)...these perverts put this on a child porn website...ahhhh ! It makes me sick to think of the things they could do with a picture of an unknowing child....and then think of the issues it could cause this child later in life if they found their pic on a child porn site ...the possibilites are endless...I wish the world was so simple as to let kids just be kids and run around naked in the water....I guess we get rid of all of the perverts and we can go back to a "innocent world"...until then, I guard my kids with my life....I am telling you there would be no stopping me if I thought someone took a pic of my child nude or even worse....I might go to prison for life, but I would not think twice about it::cop:.

 

[OhioDisDreamer]

Wow!! Quite an array of responses!
Thanks to everyone, it's nice to hear opinions, even if we don't all agree

 

[LizNJ]

We just saw a four-year old boy naked in the pool this past week at ASM. It didn't bother me one bit. My 11-year old DD thought it the most hysterical thing she had ever seen, thus I know it made her uncomfortable. Within five minutes the mom had a suit on him. Now, my four-year old is very curious as to why girls don't have "pee-pee's." I cringe to think what would have happened had that been a naked girl in the pool. I think he would have stared at her and definately said something extremely embarrasing.