How much should parents reveal of themselves in front of their children? Is nudity in the home inherently harmful, or does it ultimately come down to boundaries?
Clinical psychologist and University of the Free State lecturer Anele Siswana unpacked this often-debated topic with Sunday World.
According to Siswana, parental nudity is not automatically harmful. “It’s not the naked body that poses a problem,” he explains. “It’s the context, the intention, and the boundaries around it. Children are affected when their sense of safety, autonomy, or dignity is compromised.”
He says children experience and understand nudity differently at various stages of development. “Young children often see bodies neutrally,” says Siswana. “But from early primary school, they develop a stronger sense of privacy, gender awareness, and social rules. This is when nudity starts to matter, not because it becomes wrong, but because children’s emotional boundaries become clearer.”
A key distinction, Siswana notes, is between brief, incidental nudity and regular, casual nudity around children. Quick moments such as changing clothes or bathing are generally neutral. Habitually walking around naked, however, can subtly shift the burden of adaptation onto the child, rather than the adult adjusting to the child’s developmental needs.
Exposure to parental nudity can shape a child’s body image in both positive and negative ways. When handled with care and sensitivity, children can learn that bodies are natural and diverse. “But when boundaries are blurred or a child’s discomfort is ignored, it can lead to confusion, shame, or difficulty trusting their own bodily signals,” Siswana explains.
Cultural norms also play a significant role. In many African households, values of modesty, dignity and respect for generational boundaries remain central. Siswana believes culture should be a guide rather than a silencing force.
“Culture should guide us, not silence children’s feelings or discomfort,” he says.
He adds that parents should be alert to signs that a child may be negatively affected. These include withdrawal, anxiety, sudden changes in behaviour, unusual curiosity about adult bodies, or discomfort with their own body.
Even non-verbal cues, such as avoiding eye contact or quietly leaving the room, should be taken seriously.
Because of the power imbalance between adults and children, consent in this context is complex. “Children cannot meaningfully consent in relationships where adults hold authority,” Siswana explains. “This places an ethical responsibility on parents to self-regulate and set appropriate limits.”
His advice to parents is simple and direct: If your comfort comes at the cost of your child’s comfort, it is time to pause and re-evaluate.
“Parenting is not about asserting adult freedom,” Siswana says. “It is about stewarding safety, dignity, and trust.”
By respecting boundaries at home, parents teach children to value their own bodies and emotions, laying the foundation for confidence, self-awareness, and healthy relationships in the future.
Complete and utter hogwash lacking any scientific backing whatsoever. Here’s the truth, backed by scientific study: https://www.planetnude.co/p/the-science-doesnt-back-the-fear
The article is not arguing against family naturism, but it also isn’t giving it a blanket endorsement. Its core claim is that nudity itself is not the harm — harm comes from how nudity is practiced, whose needs are prioritised, and whether children’s developing boundaries are respected.
From a family-naturism perspective, that actually lands closer to a qualified “pro” than a “con,” because the psychologist explicitly says:
the naked body is not inherently harmful
children can learn that bodies are natural and diverse
brief or contextual nudity is usually neutral
problems arise only when adult comfort overrides a child’s comfort
Where the article becomes cautious is around regular, habitual nudity that ignores a child’s developmental stage or signals of discomfort. That caution isn’t anti-naturist; it’s anti-boundary-blindness. In fact, many ethical family-naturist frameworks would agree with this completely: consent is complex with children, power matters, and parents carry the responsibility to adapt as children grow.
So if we’re honest:
Against careless or adult-centred nudity? Yes.
Against respectful, responsive, child-centred family naturism? No.
Aligned with best-practice family naturism? Largely, yes.
In other words, the article doesn’t reject family naturism — it challenges parents to practice it well. And that’s a distinction worth making clear, especially in public conversations where “nudity” and “harm” are too often lazily linked.