When the sun shines brightly in the sky, it’s hard to maintain a bad mood. The sun does wonders for a person’s mental health and spirits. However, the sun’s UV rays can cause sunburns, skin cancer, and more. Most children love to spend a considerable amount of time outdoors. Therefore, to protect them effectively, adopt the following four tips.

1. Wear Sunscreen Daily

Most dermatologists recommend a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 on the skin. In place of regular moisturizer, use sunscreen to cover the skin. Once your children take their morning bath, cover them in a moisturizer that contains SPF. This will ensure they’re covered from head to toe.

2. Reapply Sunscreen Throughout the Day

It’s not enough to apply sunscreen in the morning and think your children are covered. Instead, carry an aerosol can of sunscreen. In the afternoon, simply spray the sunscreen on all exposed limbs. Don’t spray directly in your children’s faces. Instead, allow them to open their hands; then, spray the sunscreen. They can rub the sunscreen onto their faces.

mom putting on sunscreen

3. Wear Protective Garments

At one point, most people relied on the color of their clothing to protect them from the sun. Nowadays, many clothing manufacturers produce clothing that contains built-in UV protection. This clothing with built-in UV protection is a worthwhile investment to make for your children.

4. Pick the Right Times for Outdoor Activity

Even on a cloudy day, the sun is always able to do damage. However, you’ll want to pick times when the heat index isn’t the highest. Try to avoid outdoor play during the peak daytime hours between 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. If you spend time outside during those hours, try not to make it more than 30 minutes. Otherwise, reserve the early morning hours and the evening hours for supervised outdoor play.

At the beginning of adopting these habits, they may feel like chores. However, as you continue to make the shift, they’ll become second nature. Plus, you’ll simultaneously teach your children how to protect themselves from the sun. While a healthy dose of vitamin D is great for overall health, it’s important to begin habits that will protect you and your family from preventable skin damage.

Do you have more questions about sun safety in Salem Oregon? Contact our friendly staff at WFMC Health or become a new patient today!

This post was first published on wfmchealth.org.