Should children wear bikinis? No, says Kayleigh Dray
Call me old fashioned (and I'm sure plenty of you will), but why does a child need a bikini?
They don't need to worry about tan lines - in fact, they should be protecting their young skin from the glare of the sun - and bikinis are, let's face it, seriously uncomfortable. The straps dig in, they ride up and, if a wave hits, they're pulled right off your body. They restrict a child's movements, expose their little tummies to the harsh rays of the sun and are, generally, cumbersome.
But you know what? This isn't about lack of clothing. When I was a little girl, I used to run about on beaches naked, in my underwear or in a one-piece. My nan even had me swimming in my t-shirt whenever the sun was especially hot, to stop my shoulders and stomach burning.
As I say, it's not about the lack of clothing. It's the adult nature of the clothing that concerns me most.
Firstly, bikinis over-sexualise a child. They are worn to be sexy, to be decorative, to help reduce tan lines - that's it. What kind of message is this a) sending to our children and b) sending to strange adults who may see our children playing on the beach?
Google image search the word 'bikini' and let me know if you want that word associated with your child. Honestly.
An APA Report stated: "If girls purchase (or ask their parents to purchase) products and clothes designed to make them look physically appealing and sexy, and if they style their identities after the sexy celebrities who populate their cultural landscape, they are, in effect, sexualizing themselves.”
Point made, I'd say.
Secondly, bikinis cause our little girls to focus too much on body image from a young age. Their self-worth comes from far more than their physical appearance - they shouldn't be worrying about the way they look, their tummies, their body shape or anything like it at that age.
There is a lot of pressure on children to grow up quickly these days - and a lot more on them to look a certain way. Selfies, airbrushing, raunchy music videos - it all comes later, when they hit their teens. Do we need to foist adult fashions onto our children now? No. Let's let them play at being children, have fun and forget about fashion, makeup and what they look like.
There'll be plenty of time for all that later. For now, let's work on teaching them the value of their own self-worth rather than the joys of a two-piece, okay?
Yes, says Eleanor Hooper
Whilst I accept that certain items of clothing - high heels, padded bras, slogan tees with the words 'sexy,' 'flirty' or 'future wag' emblazoned on them are ridiculous and inappropriate for children, I find it very hard to put bikinis – an item of swimwear – in the same category.
Children should be protected from sexualisation yes. But wearing a two-piece instead of a swimming costume as they mess about in the sea and the sand – honestly, is that really that big of an issue?
Is wearing one going to make them grow up with a lower sense of self worth than girls who are wearing a one piece?
I think not.
Instead, it’s the job of parents to instil values of self-worth in their children – something which is more important than ever in our increasingly looks obsessed society.
It’s their job to emphasise the importance of being happy and comfortable in your own skin and striving to be a good person above all.
Do those who object to their daughters wearing bikinis really have such little faith in their parenting skills that they think wearing an item of clothing will change their child that dramatically?
Similarly, does it not plant the seed of the view that they can’t wear what they want for fear of what others will think?