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On this pageWhat can you do to protect your child? |
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What can you do to protect your child? As a parent, the most important thing you can do to protect your child's skin is to teach him/her early on the importance of protecting the skin. When your child is an infant, it is important to keep the baby shaded when outside, by covering the head with a hat and the arms and legs with long sleeves and pants, or by seeking shade under trees, umbrellas or other structures. When your child becomes mobile it may be necessary to seek more options for sun protection. Continue to stress the importance of covering the head with a wide-brimmed hat when you go outside (it's always helpful if you wear one too) and cover your child's arms and legs with long sleeves and pants. Purchase a comfortable pair of UV protective infant/child sunglasses and add these to your child's outdoor routine. If your toddler is crawling or walking and actively playing outside, it may be necessary to begin using a sunscreen to supplement the protective gear. Ask your pediatrician to recommend a sunscreen for your child and begin using sunscreen on the face, nose, ears, back of hands and any other exposed skin when you're outdoors. Teach your child to prepare for the sun every time you go outside for play or errands, and maintain this routine as your child grows. Be aware that sunscreen is only effective for 1-2 hours depending on your activity, so it needs to be reapplied within that time frame if you remain outdoors.
There is a large selection of sunscreen available, and selecting one might seem a challenging and confusing task. Fortunately, it is easy to learn what to look for in a sunscreen product. Follow these basic rules:
Finding sun-protective clothing While all clothing offers some measure of protection from the sun, there are certain types of clothes that are more effective in blocking UV rays. Choose clothing with a tight weave and a dark color. Clothes lose some of the sun-protective power when they get wet, so choose clothing that is loose and therefore less likely to lead to perspiration. Remember that clothing only protects the skin it covers, so if your child is wearing a skirt or shorts or a short-sleeved shirt, it is necessary to protect the exposed skin by remaining in the shade, with sunscreen, or by adding longer garments when outside. Though regular clothing does offer some sun protection, many clothing providers have started offering products with stated ultraviolet protection factors. These clothes are made to be worn for sun-protection and are often good choices for vacations and sporting events. More and more sources are also offering clothing for everyday, such as t-shirts, pants and cover-ups with an UPF rating. Some companies, such as RIT, have created a laundry additive with a UPF of 30 which can be washed into regular clothes and lasts for up to 20 washes. Here is a sampling of UPF clothing sites we found online: http://www.landsend.com -- swim//beach wear for kids with an UPF factor of 50 on many items such as swim suits, rash guards, shorts, skirts, and even capri pants. http://www.sunprecautions.com -- a wide selection of clothing for kids, women and men including pants, shirts, t-shirts, swimwear and hats http://www.nozone.ca/noz_usa.htm -- full body swimwear for kids, in addition to clothing for kids up to age 16, hats also http://www.alexandme.com -- a wide selection of clothing for kids, women and men including pants, shirts, t-shirts, swimwear and hats http://www.coolibar.com/index.html -- a wide selection of clothing for kids, women and men including pants, shirts, t-shirts, swimwear and hats
When your child begins schoolIn 2002, the State of California passed a law (Billy's Bill for Sun Safety) requiring all public schools to allow the use of "sun-protective clothing, including, but not limited to, hats" when students are outdoors. In addition, the schools must allow the use of sunscreen by the student without requirement of a doctor's prescription or note.While it is fairly easy to control your child's sun exposure when he/she is with you, sun protection becomes a bit more complicated when you send your little one off to daycare or school. Be sure to educate yourself, by asking the teacher when and how long the children will be outdoors, and prepare your child accordingly. Find out the school/daycare policy on applying sunscreen to students. Remind your child to wear her hat when outside. If the arms or legs are not protected with clothing or sunscreen, be sure he/she leaves the house with long sleeves or long plants to pull on when the class heads outside. If there is an outdoor playtime scheduled in the morning, you can help your child apply sunscreen before leaving for school. In the temperate climate of Marin county, many schools are built without cafeterias, therefore children not only spend playtime outside, but they are asked to eat outside also. Encourage your child to seek shade (under the eaves or under a tree) when eating her lunch at school, and remind him/her that wearing a hat and sun protection during lunch is just as important as when playing.
How can you help provide shaded areas at school Because so many schools in our county are without cafeterias and so much of our children's' time is spent outside, many parents have become involved in raising funds to add shade structures to their school's play and eating areas. You can help by broaching the subject at your school's PTA or principal meetings. If your school is ready to find ways to provide more shade for it's students, there are grants available from the American Academy of Dermatology to help supplement the cost of shade structures. Parents at Glenwood Elementary have recently undertaken the process of funding and building a shade structure at the school. In order to help other parents along in this process, they have developed an outline of steps to follow. Please download a PDF file of this process by clicking the link below:
Visit http://www.aad.org/professionals/VolunteerOpportunities/academyprogs.htm#academy for more information on the shade structure grant. |
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Sunsense 101 Home | The Sun and Your Skin | What is Skin Cancer | Protect Yourself | Pick the Right Sunscreen | For Kids | Teens and Tanning | For Educators | For Parents | Partnerships |
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