5 Tips for Teaching Sun Safety to Children

In sunny Southern California, our kids spend long summer days on the beach or by the pool. There’s no shortage of sunshine, but are your kids protecting their skin from the harsh sun’s rays?

“Experts estimate that nearly 80% of one’s lifetime sun exposure occurs before age 20,” shared Dr. Steven Q. Wang, program director of Dermatologic Oncology at Hoag. “Empowering our children with knowledge about how the UV radiation from the sun can damage our skin will encourage them to protect themselves from sunburns.”

“If they can learn about how the sun impacts skin early, sun protection can become a lifelong habit,” he added.

Here are some easy ways to engrain sun safety habits into your family’s daily routine:

Avoid the Worst Rays. “If you can manage to enjoy your outdoor activities before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m., you will avoid the most intense UV rays,” Dr. Wang said. In fact, nearly half of UV radiation hits us between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are the strongest.

Throw Shade. “Teach your kids that when possible, they should seek shade outside,” Dr. Wang said. Pick a spot under a tree for that game of soccer, duck under an umbrella when coming in from the pool or favor a tree-lined bike path over a sunnier one. Shade won’t offer full protection, but it helps.

Protective clothing. “During the summer, when the sun is more intense, choose lightweight, long-sleeve shirts with UV protection and hats,” Dr. Wang said. “Hats can offer an important line of defense.” Many kids brands offer UV protective clothing in cute, lightweight styles.

Wear Sunscreen. So, this is the most obvious tool in the skincare toolbelt, but it’s one that many of us surprisingly forget to do. Dr. Wang’s advice: apply sunscreen year-round. “You should put on sunscreen every day, even in the winter,” he said. “This way, you form good habits. Teach your kids to put sunscreen on everyday, just as you teach them to brush their teeth.” That way, when summer comes, they will already be in the habit of reaching for the sunscreen.

It’s Up to You. The last tip for a comprehensive approach to skincare in kids? Model good behavior. “Kids mimic their parents’ behavior,” Dr. Wang said. “If your kids see you laying out in the sun in the middle of the day with no sunscreen on, it really doesn’t matter what you tell them.”

So, grab a hat, slather on the SPF 50 or higher, and have a (safe) fun summer!

If you’re concerned about sun exposure or a suspicious spot on your skin, make an appointment with a Hoag dermatologist at www.hoag.org.