Child Nudity and the CAS

The Fall 2005 issue of Going Natural  magazine features advice for naturist parents who are being investigated by a Children's Aid Society in Ontario.

While we all know that protecting children is very important, we also know that CAS investigations may be extremely intrusive and traumatizing to families. The Federation of Canadian Naturists believes that CAS investigations based on lack information must be avoided.

The FCN, publisher of Going Natural, has learned of cases in Ontario where the CAS worker has specifically directed parents to stop participating in naturism. In other cases, parental naturist activities alone have been given as the reason for an investigation. Yet naturism itself is perfectly legal, even when children are involved. It is not a reason for CAS investigation under the Child and Family Services Act of Ontario.

While most CAS workers are reasonable and do an important job very well, the FCN has reports that some workers abuse their power, make subjective judgment calls, misinform parents, and even use intimidation tactics.

On being contacted by concerned parents, the FCN has attempted to communicate with the specific CAS involved. Citing privacy reasons, CAS officials refuse to discuss their cases; unfortunately, they also refuse to discuss their policies. For this reason, the FCN felt it necessary to publish information to help protect naturist parents.

Although the information is meant for naturists, it clearly has implications for all parents in Ontario. This initial article is based on expert advice of a family law practitioner and a children's aid worker with nearly ten years' experience, both in Ontario. Future articles will address situations in other provinces.

Those without formal training in child rearing might well conclude that non-sexual nudity could be harmful, because of opinions from popular writers on childcare, from Dr. Benjamin Spock to advice columnist Ann Landers. However, none of those so-called experts have based their advice on scientific evidence.

Scholarly research in psychology and sociology shows that children reared in a setting with family social nudity may benefit from the practice. Even the most cynical reading of this research would conclude that naturism has no negative effect.

For more information on these studies, click here.

"We tried to work with the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies to help educate workers," said Stéphane Deschênes, President of the Federation of Canadian Naturists and the father of two young children. "Unfortunately, they didn't seem interested in working with us. It's too bad, given that the system seems so overburdened with cases. As a parent, I want my children protected too, but not at the cost of our personal freedom."

To read the correspondence between the FCN and OACAS, click here.

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