by Shelly Barclay

Created on: May 10, 2011   Last Updated: April 28, 2012

Ideally, children spend a lot of time outside getting fresh air, exercising and playing. However, this poses the risk of children being exposed to the sun for prolonged periods. Being out in the sun for too long can cause sunburns, sun poisoning and even cancer. That is why it is very important that children be protected from the sun as much as possible, while still being able to enjoy healthy fun outdoors.

One way of keeping children safe from overexposure to the sun is clothing. Clothing protects the skin from being burned by the sun. It may be uncomfortable to wear long clothing in the summer, but it is possible to find long shirts and pants that are light and breathable. These clothes are also good for time spent in the woods, as they protect from insect bites. Of course, children are not going to want to wear long clothes in the heat and it is possible to get sick from being too hot, as well. Just give them as much protection as possible. A sun hat or baseball cap will provide some protection from the sun on hot days.

Sunblock is another method of protecting children from overexposure to the sun. Choose the highest SPF possible and put it on all skin that will be exposed to the sun. Make sure the sunblock is waterproof if the children will be playing in water or even just being sprayed by a hose. Also, make sure that potential removal of clothing in the sun is accounted for. For example, if a boy tends to take off his shirt when he is hot, put sunblock under his shirt.

The best way to protect children from overexposure to the sun is to keep them out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Encourage them to play in the shade or in the woods. Do not coop them up indoors for fear of the sun, but teach them to be smart and safe about it. Also, encourage them to bring water with them if they are going to be far from home on a hot day. Plenty of water is good in the event that they are overexposed to the sun.

Remember that sun exposure can happen any time of year, whether it is hot or cold. The clothes of the colder seasons do most of the protecting from the sun, but the face and head are typically still exposed. Therefore, certain items like sunglasses and hats should be worn when you are outside for a long period, even in the winter.

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