4 Crucial Tips for Keeping Your Children Safe in the Heat and Sun

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, severe sunburns during childhood increases one’s risk of skin cancer – mainly melanoma – which means children should be safely guarded from the sun.

New parents may not know the dangers sun exposure can have on kids. There are a number of things you can do to ensure a safe trip to the beach or even just a weekend trip to the park.

Below are 4 crucial tips for keeping your children safe in the heat and sun.

1. Cover Up as Much as Possible

The sun can’t damage what it can’t hit. Wearing protective clothing is one of the best things you can do to shield your children from excessive sun exposure. It might not be the cutest outfit ever, but at least they will be protected.

Cover your children in long sleeves and pants whenever possible. Opt for dark colors over light ones, since light-colored clothing doesn’t protect as well from the sun when wet.

Also, don’t forget about the other stuff – hats to prevent sunburned faces and heads, a nice pair of kids sunglasses for the eyes, and socks or shoes for the feet.

2. Always Use Sunscreen

When fully covered up isn’t an option, during the hot, summer beach months for example, sunscreen is your next line of defense.

You should be liberally applying sunscreen at least 30 minutes before your kids go out into the sun and use no less than 30 SPF. This will ensure it protects against enough UV rays, which are what causes damage to the skin.

Places that many people forget to apply sunscreen include the tips of the ears, neck, feet, and nose.

3. Closely Monitor Sun Exposure During Peak Hours

The sun’s rays are often strongest during the summer months between the hours of 10am and 2pm. These are typically the ideal times for your kids to be out and playing, which means you should be extra careful about the amount of exposure they experience.

If out at the park or playing sports, try to find a nice shady, covered area where your kids can relax and avoid direct sunlight.

Since it will likely be impossible to avoid all-together, rigorous application of sunscreen and properly covering up are going to be your best lines of defense.

4. Lead by Example

Whether you completely understand it or not, your little ones are always watching you. Everything you do, they will likely mimic at some point in their lives. That’s why setting a good precedence and leading by example is a necessary habit to get into.

If your children see you covering up, always wearing lotion, and limiting the amount of time you are in the sun, they will likely follow suit.

Just because sun protection is extremely important for kids, doesn’t mean it is also not important for the rest of the family, too. Make a fun game out of it and enjoy the team mentality you get to experience when “suiting up” against the sun.

Conclusion

Your kids are the most important beings in many of your lives. Understanding sun safety and properly protecting them as children is one of the best gifts you can give them leading into adult life.

They may not thank you for it now, but they will when they are healthy and cancer-free later in life.