How to Practice Nudity in Your Family

From a blog so you can comment there as well as here.

http://casuallynudeinkansas.blogspot.com/2011/05/republished-wiki-on-nudity-in-home.html

http://tinyurl.com/3zrtfxp


Republished Wiki on nudity in the home
I thought this article interesting even though it specifically
mentions that it is not intended for promoting public nudity.  Since
social nudity is common with nudism, the idea of not promoting public
nudity needs to be taken as outside of the nudism aspect.

Peace,
Jeanluc



How to Practice Nudity in Your Family

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Despite the good intentions of many parents, prohibiting household
nakedness can have negative consequences for children.  In our media
saturated urbanized world, children like this are primed with an
appetite for nudity related subject matter (of which most is
unhealthy.)  It takes a bit of work for the affected parent, but you
can get over this and help your children to avoid some of these
pitfalls of modern living.  Fortunately as a parent you have the
unique opportunity to provide a healthy environment for nakedness
right in the refuge of your own home.

Disclaimer:  The purpose here is not to promote public nudity as a
method for this How To; quite the contrary (see Warnings section
below).  This guide is intended primarily as a tool for parents who
want to teach their children a wholesome understanding of human
nakedness. This How To is intended primarily for use by parents in
their home.

  Steps

    Encourage family nudity without being abnormal. Young children
have not yet acquired a sophisticated understanding of modesty, and
really don't care who sees them naked. This is the time when the
parent can mold their conscience without making them self-conscious of
nakedness.  This, in turn, will help children associate nakedness to
routine activity instead of exclusively naughty activity, helping
illicit forms of nakedness to lose their appeal later in life.

    Allow your children - from birth - to see you in ordinary nude
situations (e.g.- dressing, bathing or showering, using the toilet) or
any activity where nudity is a natural part.  By being comfortable
with your own body you will naturally convey the message to your
children that nudity really is okay and not something to fear. There
are naturally times in life when clothes must be worn for protection,
for comfort, and to adhere to societal norms. However, by talking with
your children about being comfortable with nudity at home, your
children will grow up understanding that being nude & being seen nude
at home isn't something "uncool, horrible, and utterly embarrassing."

    Start allowing/encouraging family nudity during potty training &
continue through the school age years and beyond. You'd be surprised
how quickly potty training takes root when your toddler/preschooler is
allowed to go bare at home, but...be prepared for occasional
"accidents" as well, and handle these situations calmly without anger
or revulsion.

    As they begin to recognize differences between themselves and you
or your spouse, explain to them the reason for these differences.
Suggested explanations are: "Mommy's breasts are for giving milk to
babies like when you were small"? or "Mommy and daddy have hair down
here because our bodies are warmer, and it helps keep our bodies
cooler (by retaining sweat)."


  Tips

    A focal point for nudity that enables the whole family to
participate together is very helpful.  An indoor swimming pool is
ideal, but not practical for most families.  Saunas are also excellent
for this, but are not as common in the U.S. as Europe.  Other water
related ideas could be an outdoor pool below or above ground.  A
cheaper yet more practical idea that works year round would be a hot
tub.  Children see this as a heated kiddie swimming pool they can use
water toys in too.

    A great side benefit to wholesome understandings of the naked body
in the home is that when the time comes to explain human reproduction,
there will be less tension from the children.  They will not have the
distraction of embarrassment when discussing (what for others can be)
'shameful' body parts.  This in turn, will keep the communication
lines open during adolescence.

    There are many great books on pregnancy and adolescence that
separate the romantic (i.e. sexual) aspect from the physiological
changes of puberty.  These books provide a very neutral clinical look
at breast and pubic hair growth during the teen years, and include
very candid photos of actual births.  Influences like these help
separate nudity from sex in the child's mind, and provide a framework
where family nudity can flourish to the benefit of all.

    Realize that not all shame is bad shame.  Good shame is ingrained
to help us avoid compromising situations.  But other shame is the
result of social conditioning during childhood, and unnecessarily
predisposes us to clothes compulsiveness.

    Respect others' standards.  One good approach is to point out that
other people are not accustomed to nudity, and it's kind to respect
their wishes.  This may mean keeping the curtains drawn, or willingly
closing the bathroom door when guests are present, for example -- a
practice that encourages courtesy, but not shame.

    Young adolescents naturally develop increased modesty around the
time of puberty.  Don't force someone to be nude.  Wearing pants for a
while may help the transition.  Being around other teens who role
model comfort with their bodies will be reassuring.

    For families where the children are older it may be difficult to
change attitudes.  In some cases big decisions may need to be made in
order to break free from habits.  Such changes may include ridding the
home of magazines (men's magazines, fashion, or sports related
material), television, or other media that subtly foster a "nudity is
sex"? mindset.  Peers are also part of the equation.  It may be
necessary to move to another region to get a fresh start.  Teenagers
especially are very keen on whether the parents walk the talk, so if a
parent still models these attitudes so will the teens.

    The goal is to provide children the opportunity to see nakedness
in a way that is almost non-existant in our society:  to make it a
neutral, non-sensuous part of everyday life in its proper context.
This goes a long way toward innoculating them from the enticements so
easily found outside the walls of your home and in the marketplace.


  Warnings

    Be careful about with whom you share your family practices.  Not
all people will easily come to the conclusions you intended.  Nudity
and sex are still considered to be related in our society; this stems
partly from puritanical attitudes, but also from decades of hedonistic
influence by the swingers movement, from influences such as Hedomism
II in Jamaica, the SunnyDaze Resort in Colorado, and events like Nudes-
a-Poppin in Indiana.

    Although this should be obvious to any well-meaning parent, care
is advised during moments of intimacy and marital relations.  Since
the genitalia are a major source of pleasure during these times, be
careful to instead emphasize the primary functions (birth canal,
urination) of genitals to younger children.  Anything beyond that may
overpower their emotional stage of development and work against the
wholesome environment you are trying to maintain.  Marital intimacy is
best left behind closed doors.

    Avoid exposing children to nude photography from fine art, or
internet sources as some of this has a subtly skewed pornographic
message that untrained eyes will not immediately recognize.  The best
example is you, your spouse, and older siblings or relatives who bring
a very real element to human nakedness.

    Exercise proper hygiene. When exercising family nudity, always
encourage/require the use of a towel for sitting. As any parent can
tell you, young children don't always exercise the very best cleaning
methods after using the potty. Don't be embarrassed about teaching
good, healthy personal toileting hygiene to your children. They look
to you to teach them properly and correctly.