How do you teach children with autism modesty?

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My son who is 4 runs naked all the time.
He seems to be more comfortable when he is naked and he takes his clothes off everywhere.
My wife and I often try to teach him that it is embarassing, but it never works.
I want to hear your opinion.
What have you tried?
What has worked?

Well... If he's as severe as my step-nephew... All I can say is, "Good luck."

He's 11(?) now and my brother and his wife still have trouble keeping him clothed.

It might be that he's tactile sensitive.

Wish I could help you more.

Edit:
I should say that my step-nephew doesn't take off his clothes literally everywhere. Just at home. (I think anyways I don't see him that often...)

Find clothing that is more comfortable wearing than being naked.

Silk, velvety matierials, sheer cloths. It will depend on his personal taste (touch, rather).

If he is more comfortable dressed, he will remain clothed.

It doesn't work because it is not embarrassing for him to be naked, it is embarrassing for you when he is naked. You might (although unlikely) be able to teach him about your embarrassment, but you can not teach him to be embarrassed, and should not. He will probably become embarrassed about being naked when he develops sexual awareness, and remain clothed.

My kids regularly ran around naked frequently at that age, but had stopped completely by about nine years old. It seemed like entirely normal behaviour to me.

Ha ha, I was like this. When I was a young child, I loved to get free of my clothes while I was home. My parents had to remind me constantly not to do so. It was reduced to being naked only for a few allowed minutes before changing to pyjamas at the age around 3. And before bath, I remember I was about 11 when I was still allowed to do. They had been having hard time to buy me clothes, especially pants, I used to complain "It prickles me, Dad!"

I concur.....quite likely it's a case of "do nothing and all will be done." If it's still a problem when he's at puberty, it ought to be easier to explain it to him them. Though frankly the whole notion of nudity embarrassment is hard to explain logically......it would be easier explaining it to a girl, because the sexual danger is obvious, but I never heard of a good reason why boys need to cover up, except that it freaks people out when they don't.

It's more like that you let him be naked (or wear only a shirt, as I did mostly), even play with him not bothered by this, and after some time, when you think it's appropriate considering a path of development, say, "Put your pants and socks on my son, it was enough for today." (or do it yourself)

Well clearly he does not find it embarrasing.....a better approach might be to tell him that in public its not appropriate or something. But hey if he's at home I would let him run around naked all he wants if he could understand clothing has to be worn when you go out around other people.

We used to run around Naked till about 10, and dare one another to run up and down the street, I remember a couple of old Grannies having a whale of a laugh at us.
But obviously that was just at home, I'd let him do that in your home to give him an outlet for his nudey running, but tell him its for there only.

I say designate naked times for him. If you say ok you can be naked for 10 minutes at this time and only when in the privacy of your bedroom. Maybe he'll get into a routine to only be naked around that time. Or you can get him into some comfortable clothes. Or if he can talk ask him why he likes to be naked.

I liked being naked around that age and probably up to 8 years old.

"Well, do you see any other nakey people anywhere?"

Reason and rationalization. Being naked is something people do it private - like going potty. It's okay to be naked but only in private... and let him have some naked time at home in his room in private.

If the kid doesn't want to eat from the Tree of Knowledge, it's up to him.

Your son is only 4 years old. He probably can't even read yet, and you expect him to understand the illogically complex rules of modesty?

If I were you I would be careful about too much teaching. My parents always tried to teach me modesty and it made me want to go naked more because I experienced it as nagging. If you do tell him not to run naked be sure to do it in a way that does not cause him to resent your teaching.

I agree with the above.

I've never really grasped the concept of modesty. It strikes me as a bit strange, after all, they're just bodies.

I frequently removed my clothing and when I was six I was allowed to wear shorts (no top) although, if we were at a friend's house I would be allowed to wander around in underwear. Comfortable clothes usually kept me in them for a bit longer.

When I got to 11 - being female - I was told that I was no longer allowed to run into the sea with my knickers on (and thought it was horribly unfair), but at some point, when my peers told me otherwise, I suppose, I just realised that I should wear clothes - if only to keep them happy.

I now wear minimal clothing in the house, although in the last four months I've moved from no clothes to bra, t-shirt and knickers or a dress or pyjamas because my mother's partner is going to move to our house in November and so spends a lot of time/some nights here.

I'm 16. Your son will probably progress differently to me, being a different person, but I wouldn't worry about it too much. (Although, I can see why public indecency could be a problem when he's older, so I suggest trying to find clothes he will wear and buy multiple items of them, perhaps introducing different coloured versions of it if he's able to cope with flexability.)

Imagine a world where people didn't feel embarrassed? This globe would be a MUCH better place.
Truthfully and honestly, what is a good reason for wearing clothes other than skin protection? Why is it inappropriate? I absolutely hate the fact that I have been taught embarrassment and modesty, it does nothing but create self esteem and social problems.

Please don't censor your own child, these are years that he can be carefree and live without worry, and you wish to introduce unnecessary modesty and self image issues...
He'll be bombarded by how inappropriate his natural state is by peers, media and most likely yourselves around early teen (tween) years, and this will shape the rest of his life. I would suggest teaching him acceptance and freedom over things like modesty, these are traits that will be of far more value in later life.