Shaded Nation

Sunburn can be a problem for us all, but it’s especially important to prevent children from getting burnt.

Kids’ skin is more tender than adults and this makes it vulnerable to overexposure to the sun. Furthermore, it has been scientifically proven that suffering a bad burn as a child can increase a person’s chances of contracting skin cancer in later life.

Indeed, in July the skin cancer awareness organisation Melanoma Action and Support Scotland even suggested that parents who fail to protect their kids from the sun’s rays are guilty of neglect.

However, here at Shaded Nation we understand that keeping children safe can be easier said than done. With that in mind, here are our top tips on how to ensure your little ones have fun in the sun without getting burned.

Education 

It will do no harm to tell your children they should avoid getting sunburn because it is bad for their health. While you obviously don’t want to mention scary things like skin cancer, letting them know that getting burned is bad can only be a good thing.

Perhaps you can even make a game of it and challenge the kids to think of ways they can stay safe in the sun.

Protection 

It’s reasonably easy to take some basic precautions to protect your kids from sunburn. Ensure they are dressed appropriately with a hat and long sleeved clothes where possible, while any exposed areas of skin should regularly have strong sun lotion applied.

Installing a shade sail is another way to keep them safe. These structures can block up to 98.8 per cent of harmful UV rays and are becoming a common feature in family gardens, schools and nurseries.

Setting a good example

If your children don’t see you taking action to protect your skin the chances of them doing the same are much lower. Kids love to emulate mum and dad and you’d be surprised at the impact setting a good example can have.