I'm the father of a 9 year old boy, and my wife and I have been naturists since before he was born. As such I can only speculate on what a couple with kids should tell them a in the situation of going to a naturist venue for the first time, but practical experience may give some insights (hopefully!).

Adam (my son) has grown up with naturism and took to it quite naturally as a toddler. We have always walked around the house naked, and naturist friends are likely to do the same whilst here. Adam accepted this as a fact of life when he was younger and continues to do so, however he has developed a sense of when it is appropriate to be naked :o) Only once has he got it wrong, and that was when he was about 3 and he took his clothes off at a playgroup meeting!

As he's been brought up with naturism, we don't make a point of making a distinction between naturist events / places and non naturist, he just accepts both equally. We've also never given him a choice between non-naturist and naturist events - we just go. There are occasions when he seems a little self conscious, and if so we respect his wish to remain clothed, other times he's quite happy to be naked. Either way we never force it.

The biggest problem that we have come across as he gets older is the lack of suitable playmates - naturist venues (clubs / beaches / swims) seem to attract an older age group in the main, with relatively few kids in evidence and this can cause boredom problems. This may not be so much of a problem at some locations but we are limited where we can go because of the dog ...

He tells me that he has told his friends, but not his teacher. His friends said that it was disgusting but he thinks it's OK. He said that he there was no particular reason he hadn't told his teacher, it just hadn't been mentioned. We're quite open about our naturism, with all grandparents knowing about it so he can't embarrass us by mentioning it to them!

Where does this leave our hypothetical couple going to a naturist venue for the first time?

a) I think that what is said to the children will depend on their ages and maturity - under 7/8s could just be taken along and have it explained, en-route, that it is a place where they need not wear clothes if they do not want to, however they can if they want. For this to work the couple must choose a place that does not enforce a 'nude at all times' rule to allow children to be clothed if they wish. Between these ages and around 13/14 some consultation and discussion should be undertaken before the trip. If the children are against the idea perhaps a compromise along the lines of 'try it, but if you don't like it we will leave' would be a good idea. Children over the age of 14 should be old enough to be left at home, or a friend's, for the day if they don't want to go, so can be offered a 'free' choice. At this age children often don't want to go -anywhere- with their parents anyway!

b) As for what, and who, the kids tell, it should be left up to them at any age. Having said this I know most naturists are more circumspect about allowing others to know of their naturism than we are, and so are more likely to want to 'gag' their children. However this is likely to give the impression to a child, and anyone else who 'discovers' the 'secret', that there is something 'wrong' about it, giving a negative impression. In fact ISTM that this secretiveness about naturism is one of the major factors in limiting its popularity and acceptance, but I digress . . . Given the choice I expect that most kids would keep quiet about it anyway if their parents were to be secretive about it (I know my son doesn't, but he's quite outspoken generally and has picked up on our attitudes I expect). If something *is* said by the children then the parents will just have to accept it and discover that most people are tolerant of naturism.